An 8-man kidnap syndicate responsible for five kidnap incidents has been busted by the Ondo State Security Network otherwise known as Amotekun Corps.
Corps Commander Akogun Adetunji Adeleye paraded the suspects at the headquarters of the formation at Alagbaka, Akure, the state capital, on Friday.
The suspects were arrested by the Amotekun Rangers, who are specifically station in the forests, across state where kidnappers and other criminals used as hideouts.
Upon interrogation, the Armourer of the syndicate confessed to five kidnap incidents in the state in the recent time.
Speaking during the parade, Akogun Adeleye said: “We have six major kidnap suspects and one case of abuse, which is rape. As a result of the activities of the Amotekun Rangers in the forest, we were able to dismantle a terrible kidnap syndicate.
“And one of their armourershappened to be here today, that we have arrested and he has confessed to five major kidnap operations within the state.
“We have a 21-year-old Lugag, a 40-year-old Andrew, a 30-year-old Eze Chinedu, and Ime, Yahaya, and their local collaborator, Seun. They’re all suspected kidnappers.”
Meanwhile, Amotekun Corps also apprehended one Agu Joseph who was said to have escaped from Okitipupa Correctional facility.
He allegedly committed another crime while still on the run.
The Corps Commander said: “One Agu Joseph, who is a jailbird, actually escaped from Okitipupa custodian Center to commit another crime where Amotekun operatives picked him.”
Among other crime suspects paraded were eight scavengers, who spy and gather information for kidnap syndicate during the day.
The suspects ostensibly scavenge in housing estates and other areas of the state capital and surreptitiously navigate round the estates and submitted their findings to the syndicate they worked for to operate in the night or during office hours and church service.
Akogun Adeleye said: “On those that pretend to be hawkers and picking metals, but they are actually collaborators and information gathering agents of kidnappers and robbers.
“We have David Abdul, 22, Abdullai, 27, Sani, 22 years old, Ahmed, 26, Emma, 20, Dayo, the local collaborator, 27, Marcello Buhari, 25, all in the business of pretending to be picking metals on dump sites when they are actually breaking, stealing generators, stealing equipment, breaking into people’s houses.”
Therefore, the Corps Commander said: “So, across the board, these 51 suspects have gone through various stages of interrogation, and about 35 of them will be going to court of competent jurisdiction today, while the others will face the internal dispute resolution method.
“If they scale through, we will be able to resolve at that level, otherwise they will end up at a court of competent jurisdiction.
“With this, what we keep saying, and we are still saying, is that Ondo State is not safe for criminals. Pack your things and go. We have told you the government and the good people of Ondo State are opposed to kidnapping for ransom.
“Our watchword is to ensure that Ondo State remains safe for investors to thrive and work. Our forest, we are striving to ensure that it remains safe for farmers to farm to avoid food insecurity.”
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