The Ondo State Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun Corps, arrested 45 individuals for allegedly participating in various criminal activities in the state.
The suspects are said to have committed crimes such as kidnapping, damaging property, stealing, breaking into homes, and being involved in a cult.
Commander Adetunji Adeleye displayed the suspects at the corps headquarters in Akure and mentioned that they were caught within two weeks of the corps' operation.
Out of the 45 suspects, seven were already in court, but they are needed to provide more information for the ongoing investigation.
Permission was obtained from the court to keep the suspects for a few more days, which is why they were included in the display.
The commander stated, "Today (Monday) we are displaying 45 suspected criminals who have been involved in various criminal activities within the state. Our team has been patrolling 24 hours a day in the 18 local government areas of Ondo state, and a total of 45 suspected criminals have been captured in the last two weeks."
Of particular mention are the criminals involved in damaging electricity transformers. One of them was injured when the power supply was unexpectedly turned on while cutting a cable, causing burns to half of his body.
He was swiftly arrested after receiving medical treatment. After the incident, he was taken to three different hospitals, and when the detectives from the Ondo State Network Security began pursuing him, he was moved out of Akure.
The commander mentioned, "We also tracked him to the location and brought him in a very serious condition. There was an attempt to kill him so he wouldn't reveal the supporters. We had to revive him, take him to the corps' health facility, and spent a lot of money to save his life. He was able to provide information about nine other members of the gang, including their leader, who is currently evading arrest. We are pursuing their leader."
During the display, Adeleye also mentioned one of the remaining 44 suspected individuals, named Jubril, who was initially arrested for kidnapping, released on bail, and then arrested again within 48 hours for the same crime.
He also reported, "We have a suspected kidnapper, (Jubril), who was arrested a few weeks ago but was released on bail. Within 48 hours of being released, the traditional ruler and the villagers reported that three people were about to be kidnapped by the same man's gang, and we were able to catch him. The security organization that originally caught him is still pursuing the initial kidnapping case in court, and now he has been arrested again for another one."
The commander added, "We also have cases of individuals who specialize in damaging electrical installations in unfinished buildings around the area. They remove the wiring, strip it, melt it, and sell it to the same leader who is on the run. We have a few cases of shoplifting and home burglary. Additionally, we have individuals arrested in connection with kidnapping and cult activities."
He said that the individuals accused would go to court once the investigations were finished on their cases.
