The Ondo State Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, has arrested a teenager, Sadiq Ayodokun who uses a traditional bulletproof and anti-arrest vest to escape from the security agencies.
Ayodokun and 20 others were paraded by the security network for alleged murder, robbery, kidnapping, and stealing at the Alagbaka office on Tuesday.
The teenager, however, said he inherited the traditional bulletproof vest from his father, who was an herbalist. He said it was the first time he had put the cloth on during an operation, but he usually goes out with it when going out for an operation.
The Commander of Amotekun, Chief Adetunji Adeleye said the suspected criminals have devised different means to evade arrest and carry out their nefarious activities in the state.
Speaking during the parade of the 21 suspected criminals, Adeleye said there is an upsurge in robbing of motorcyclists, popularly called okada, and killing them in the process.
Adeleye said ” I want to bring to the notice of the public that criminal activities are now static. The more we devise means of checkmating them, the more they also move forward, and I know by the grace of God and the support of Ondo State people in the provision of credible and actionable information, we will get around it.
“A typical example is the modus operandi of those specializing in the kidnap and stealing of okada.
“Earlier, we advised the people not to patronize okada who use hoods to cover their heads, only leaving spaces for their eyes and nose, as those are known to be criminals, especially at night.
“We were able to break a syndicate that devised another means of dispossessing innocent okada riders of their okada. Some of them have been killed. They use guns and heavy objects, and rather than mount the okada, they ride beside the okada and hit him on the head. So he falls, and they pick up the bike.
“Within minutes, the bike is dismembered, put in a sack, and taken out of the state. We were able to apprehend the mastermind from Benin, in Edo State and a serious manhunt is ongoing for the accomplice
“We also have a group that specializes in breaking into empty, unoccupied houses when the owners are not around. They burgle and empty the house of everything, and it is sold around to various local governments, but we were able to retrieve some of them from the different local governments.
“I want to warn people who take pleasure in buying cheap second-hand items to desist, as they will be taken as accomplices. If there is no ready market, it will discourage the vandals.
“Another group steals and extracts wires from houses and conduits, then melts the copper wires and sells them. We equally have suspected kidnappers apprehended around where the ransom was paid. They have given us useful information.
“You will observe the upsurge of criminal activities, especially kidnapping, along the borders of the Ose, Edo, Akoko, and Kogi axis. Apart from the governor’s directive that Amotekun rangers should dominate and flush criminals from forests, we have devised security tactics to bring about relative peace at the border local governments of Edo-Ondo, Edo-Kogi. The results will be visible within a few days.”
Adeleye said those arrested had been profiled and would be charged in court for various offenses.