• 53 suspects paraded over kidnapping, murder, cultism, others
• Two kidnapped boys rescued, one badly wounded
• Four-man self-kidnap gang busted
The Ondo State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun Corps, has arrested 53 suspects, including 21 undocumented foreign nationals, in separate operations across the state.
The suspects were paraded at the corps’ headquarters in Akure on Monday for alleged involvement in various offences, including kidnapping, self-kidnapping, murder, attempted murder, burglary, stealing and cultism.
Amotekun Commander in Ondo State, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, said the 21 foreign nationals were arrested after intelligence provided by members of the Fulani community in the state.
According to him, the suspects were found living in two apartments in Owo, headquarters of Owo Local Government Area, where they allegedly claimed to have come from neighbouring West African countries to engage in menial jobs and phone repairs.
However, Adeleye said they could not produce documents authorising their stay in Nigeria.
He said the command had in recent months observed an influx of foreigners moving through forests and urban areas under different guises.
The commander said, “Again today, we have 21 of them that rented only two apartments in Owo under the guise of coming in from neighbouring West African countries to do menial jobs and repairs of phones, being coordinated and assisted by indigenes.
“We found out that they don’t even have ECOWAS papers to guarantee their stay.”
Adeleye said the suspects had been handed over to relevant security agencies for further investigation and necessary action.
He also warned landlords against renting properties to unidentified persons, saying those who provide accommodation for undocumented foreigners could face scrutiny.
According to him, foreigners abandoned by their sponsors could become vulnerable to recruitment into criminal activities.
Four-man self-kidnap gang exposed
The commander also disclosed that the corps had uncovered a four-man self-kidnapping syndicate allegedly using social media to raise false alarms and extort money.
He said one of the suspects had reportedly approached Amotekun to report that his siblings had been kidnapped but was later discovered to be part of the alleged plot.
According to Adeleye, investigators subsequently traced the purported kidnap victim to his home.
“We have four people here today that give self-kidnapping and raise false alarms using social media,” he said.
Two kidnapped boys rescued
Adeleye further disclosed that seven suspects were arrested for alleged kidnapping following collaboration between Amotekun and members of the Fulani community.
He said a military uniform was recovered from one of the suspects during the operation, while two kidnapped boys were rescued.
One of the victims, according to the commander, sustained serious machete injuries to his head and body but was rescued alive and taken for medical treatment.
“With the cooperation we received from the Fulani community, we were able to jointly carry out an operation where a military uniform was recovered from one of the kidnappers, and we successfully retrieved the two kidnapped boys, though wounded,” Adeleye said.
He said the victim was now stable after receiving treatment.
The Amotekun commander commended members of the Fulani community for providing intelligence that assisted security operatives in identifying suspected criminal elements.
He also praised Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for supporting the corps in its efforts to combat crime across the state.
