….blames Harsh Economic situation for high crime rate.
By: Oluwatosin Adesola
The Ondo State Security Network Agency code-named Amotekun Corps, has confirmed the arrest of over 250 suspected criminals in the last two weeks when the 2023 Ember Months patrol and Joint Border patrol in the state.
The Security network however paraded 55 of the suspects in Akure.
Parading them, the State Corps Commander of Amotekun Corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye said the suspects included shop buglers, kidnappers, snatching of okada and stealing.
According to the Commander, the actual arrest is about 250 but having profiled them, the 55 would be charged to court for prosecution.
Akogun Adeleye who is also the Special Adviser to Ondo State Governor on Security matters, noted that the remaining suspects had been released to their family heads, community and religious leaders for proper reorientation.
Adeleye said, “this ember months patrol is aimed at ensuring that commuters and residents of Ondo state enjoy the yuletide period without fear. In furtherance, we commenced the 24-hours 7days patrol in the 18 local government areas of the state.
“On the state capital, we commenced streets by streets patrol to ensure that as against the last parade we did that we have so many instances of shops breaking, house breaking, we decided to post those in uniform and not in uniform Amotekun men to all streets.
“We even posted our men to around where the financial institutions are to ensure that there will be no bank robbery in Ondo state during the yuletide period. Also the herders/farmers clashes had been reduced to five percent. While this is different, it is a general appraisal of the security situation in Ondo state.
“We are parading about 55 suspects, majority of these suspects had confessed to the crimes. The actual arrest is about 250 but having profiled the 250, we removed the 55 that we belief the court of law should tell us whether they are fit to come back to the society or go to the correctional services.
“There is no serious of political activities, students had been cooperating with the security agencies, we don’t have issues with chieftaincy affairs in Ondo state, and as we talk human trafficking had been reduced to zero, the issue of neighbors unrest has also been put at rest.
“Religious crisis we don’t even have, militancy we don’t have issues with that, terrorism for now we don’t have, cultism has been bored to barest minimum, we have issues of kidnapping and robbery around the bad portion of the road between Owo and Ifon, our men are always in the forest to curtal the excesses of these criminals that want to take the advantage of this bad road.
“To put a stop to it, the federal government should do quickly repair this Owo-Ifon road and make it
pliable for commuters in order to reduce crimes in Ondo state.
“We want to say that investors, workers, residents and farmers should go to their normal businesses without fear as we are approaching the yuletide festivities. Zero tolerance for crimes remains resolute with Amotekun people.
“Some of those that we arrested involved in kidnapping activities, vandalisation of transformers, house breaking, illegal possession of firearms, treat to life, attempted robbery, stealing of fuel, destruction of cables amongst others.
“The summary is that we remains resolute in our slogans of zero tolerance to crimes and we want to assure the good people of Ondo state that the government of Oluwarotimi Akeredolu remains resolute in protecting lives and properties of residents and commuters plying the state.”
According to him, “a lot of the youths involving in nefarious activities are actually went into criminality because they don’t have anything doing.
“I think the government should provide elaborate job opportunities, we all know the economic situation of the country is harsh and tough. In view of this, government should increase the palliatives to even those that they cannot feed.
“The palliatives should be for those that find it difficult to feed themselves. There should be a way, social insurance for the jobless people for them to feed. Once they can feed, we can now checkmate them why they go into criminality,” the Amotekun Corps Commander said.
