By Adewale Momoh, Akure
The Southwest Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun Corps, over the weekend, disclosed that its operatives arrested no fewer than 80 suspected criminals within the last three weeks.
While explaining that the suspects were nabbed in various parts of the state and outside the state for alleged involvement in crimes, the corps revealed that it had been able to arraign 32 of the suspects following the conclusion of investigations.
According to the Commander of the Amotekun Corps in Ondo State, Akogun Adeleye, among those arrested were herders, who allegedly destroyed the 10 hectares of cassava farm of the immediate past Vice Chairman (Southwest) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Eddy Olafeso.
Adeleye stated that the culprits fled to neighbouring Ekiti State after destroying the cassava farm where they were apprehended.
The Amotekun boss also said that a four-man syndicate that specialised in snatching tricycles and selling them off outside the state was also tracked to Lagos State.
Adeleye, who is also the Special Adviser on Security Matters to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, said: “In the last three weeks, 80 criminals were arrested.” In the last week, about 32 were taken to court for prosecution.
Investigations are going on in most of these cases.
“The criminals engaged in various criminal activities ranging from murder to anti-grazing, theft of motorcycles, grinding machines, stealing of tricycle popularly known as keke Marwa, stealing of various household items, including generators, and armed robbery.
“A criminal is a criminal, regardless of where they come from; we don’t want to give colour to criminality; a criminal is a criminal.”
“The signal we are sending is that Ondo State is a place where you can’t thrive as a criminal, and the criminals should better leave Ondo State, not only within the town but within the forests. Some of these criminals were arrested right inside the forest.
“Again, the anti-open grazing law is in force in Ondo State, where we discourage the use of underage children for grazing, especially when they engage in the destruction of farm products.”
“We arrested some of those that engaged in the destruction of the farm of one of the principal officers of PDP that went viral. We caught them and brought them back. There were four of them who were involved.
“But regardless of what they do, they have contravened the anti-open grazing law, so they must fulfill the righteousness by going through the normal judicial system.”
Source: The Guardian