The Ondo State Security Network Agency, also known as the Amotekun Corps, has apprehended 98 suspected criminals, including individuals who allegedly posed as mentally unstable persons to facilitate kidnapping and robbery operations across the state.
Parade of Suspects
The Corps Commander, Adetunji Adeleye, disclosed this while parading the suspects, among them one of the fake lunatics, at the agency’s headquarters. Adeleye stated that many of the suspects were arrested during anti-kidnapping missions conducted in various parts of the state, while others were taken into custody for robbery, drug peddling, and activities capable of disrupting public peace.
According to him, 60 of the suspects are currently facing prosecution in competent courts, while 38 cases were resolved through the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism. He added that 13 other suspects are undergoing investigation and interrogation ahead of prosecution.
New Criminal Tactic Uncovered
The Amotekun commander revealed that 10 suspects were arrested at kidnapping scenes while attempting to carry out abductions. He also disclosed that operatives uncovered a new tactic allegedly adopted by criminals who disguise themselves as mentally unstable individuals to evade suspicion while conducting criminal activities.
According to Adeleye, the fake lunatics were involved in drug trafficking, intelligence gathering for kidnappers, robbery, and other criminal activities across the state. “Our intelligence and plainclothes officers monitored and tracked them to places where they charged their phones, changed clothes, and coordinated operations before they were arrested,” he said.
Rescue Operation Without Ransom
Adeleye further narrated how Amotekun operatives rescued a kidnapped couple in Iluabo community without the payment of ransom. He explained that the agency’s rapid response team immediately moved into the forest after receiving distress information, leading to the rescue of the female victim, while an overnight operation eventually secured the release of her husband. “We reunited the family without any ransom payment or negotiation,” he stated.
The commander attributed the recent rise in kidnapping and other criminal activities to pressure mounted on criminal elements fleeing northern parts of the country.
