To tackle insecurity, Ondo State Security Network, also called Amotekun Corps has sought the cooperation of security agencies in Edo State to comb the various communities for criminals and check inter-border kidnapping.
Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, Corps Commander disclosed this to journalists on Wednesday in Akure, the Ondo State capital, while fielding questions during a programme, Platform, organised by the correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state.
Akogun stated that some kidnappers carry out their heinous activities at the border communities in Ondo State and escape with the victims to Edo State.
According to Adeleye, who is also the Special Adviser (Security Matters) to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, a series of complaints by the residents of the communities had forced the formation to establish offices and control points in some of the border communities.
He said, “When we realised that some of these criminals come from the neighbouring Edo State to strike in border communities in Ondo State, we decided to have a synergy with security agencies in Edo State to check activities of these criminals.
“The criminals understand the terrain so much that when they abduct their victims in Ondo State border communities, they will cross the river that separates Ondo and Edo States to their hideout in other border communities in the Edo State axis.
“Through the combined efforts of Edo State security agencies and our combined team from Ondo State, we have busted a syndicate in one of the Edo State border communities where they were sharing their booty.
“The birth of the Amotekun Corps in the state has made the state to be adjudged one of the most peaceful states in the country.
“We are all living witnesses to the fact that today, Ondo State ranks as one of the safest states in this country. What we have right now in Ondo State is pockets of violence in border areas and in response to this, the government has directed, in which we’ve implemented some of them now, putting in place, offices and control points in Imoru, Ijagba axis to take care of kidnapping and violence around Ose local government while Jugbere is to take care of the Akure North. We are proposing three other strategic ones, such that by the end of the year, all our porous border villages and towns will be adequately covered by the activities of the corps.”
Meanwhile, the Corps Commander disclosed that his command in the last two and a half years of establishment of the formation, has arrested no fewer than 7,000 criminals and 1,500 among them have been prosecuted and judgment secured in some of the cases.
The Chairman, Council of Amotekun Commanders in South-West said: ” With the support of sister security agencies, particularly, the DSS has often assisted us in getting the requisite geo-location of kidnap victims and suspects.
“All these coupled with our local intellect and unconventional methods assisted us in arresting, to date, over 7,000 suspected criminals out of which 1,500 of them have been charged to court,” he said.
- FG moves to secure natural resources, as presidential committee meets service chiefs - January 25, 2024
- Kogi govt pays JAMB registration fees for 15,033 public school students - January 24, 2024
- Edo Guber: APC debunks aspirants screening disqualification rumours - January 24, 2024
