By Rhoda Azeez
At least 24 people have been detained by the Ondo State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun Corps, in relation to a number of criminal acts. The corps added that it had freed Bisola Olisa, a student, who had been abducted by robbers along the Ikare-Ado Ekiti Motorway. Speaking about the arrest on Wednesday, State Corps Commander Adetunji Adeleye revealed that the suspects were detained for a variety of offences, including kidnapping, armed robbery, theft of motorbikes, conspiracy and cable theft, illegal immigration, gun possession, and malicious damage.
He said that the operation, which resulted in the suspects’ detention, was carried out in coordination with other state security services. “We arrested and paraded 24 suspects,” he declared. We are happy to inform you the state’s security situation is remarkably steady. The anti-open grazing law is being enforced, political activities are proceeding uninterrupted, and law and order is being upheld.
“There aren’t any big issues with land, chieftaincy disputes, or terrorism. There is no crisis affecting student activities, and there are no labour union difficulties at the moment. Regarding the abduction case, Adeleye clarified that the 32-year-old victim was taken captive in the Supare area of the Akoko South-West Local Government Area of the state together with three other victims. She was saved by the joint team of Amotekun and other security personnel.
He mentioned that two of the kidnappers were in custody. In reference to the most recent kidnapping incident in Supare, when four victims were abducted into the jungle and one fatality was reported, the corps acted swiftly in coordination with other security organisations. Adeleye continued, “We are confident that we will secure the release of the remaining victims. We apprehended two suspects, one of whom is here.” The commander said that while the corps looked into various options to guarantee justice for the legitimate owners of the stolen goods, the suspects would be profiled and those who needed to appear in court would be brought there.
Bisola Olisa, the victim, described how she was taken hostage, saying, “I was coming from Ikare, heading to Ekiti.” I got into a car from the garage when I arrived in Akungba; there were seven of us in the car. We could hear the bandits firing rounds at one point. Thus, they stopped us right away. They marched us into the forest after shooting the person next to me dead. A few travellers suffered injuries.
“There were numerous kidnappers on the road, but four of them led us into the jungle; they were all armed. We hiked through the night and ascended a mountain where we took a seat in the morning. For around half an hour, the three of us complied with their request to lie down. It occurred to me that they had stopped chatting. I took a peek to see if they were sleeping, but all I saw was one of the gang members; the others were vanished.
“I explained to them that I had to urinate in order to get away. I noticed the Amotekun Corps when I got to the main road, and they saved me and brought me to their station.