Operatives of the Ondo State Security Network, also known as the Amotekun corps on Wednesday paraded a 52-year-old man, Temidayo Olagundoye among 47 others for his alleged involvement in “one chance” gang that specialised in dispossessing passengers of their belongings in the state.
Parading the suspects, Corps Commander of Amotekun in the state, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye said the syndicate used private cars on the highway to lure the innocent people into their cars, dispossessing passengers of their belongings before speeding off.
Adeleye informed the public that those arrested in connection with the crime have confessed to the membership of the gang.
“We were able to put some of our men in one of the vehicles and as we talk today, out of the ten vehicles they use, we were able to retrieve three and one of the suspected criminals has been arrested and is here on parade,” Adeleye said.
He disclosed that the 48 suspects were arrested during Operation ‘Safe-ground’ ongoing in Ondo State.
He listed the scope of the operation include criminal activities spreading across kidnapping, cattle rustling, attempted murder, fraud and illegal counterfeiting of money.
Other criminal activities include cultism, illegal migration and stealing of planks, burglary, arson, anti-grazing activities and vandalisation of critical government assets.
Emphasising on the successes recorded by guaranteeing safety and security during the Eid-el-Kabir, the Amotekun boss said assurances were given to Muslim faithful to ensure a hitch-free Sallah celebration.
“Men of the Amotekun corps had assured the Muslim faithful that they would put everything in place to ensure that the festive period went on without security breaches.
“During this period, in the last week, a Toyota and Lexus car was stolen on different occasions in Owo. We trailed, tracked and traced it from Owo to Igbara-Oke where we were able to intercept the vehicle.
“We equally responded to the distress call in Owo on midnight of Wednesday where a car was stolen and within 30 minutes, we were able to recover the vehicle and we were on the trail of the robbers,” Adeleye said.