Ondo State Security Network otherwise known as Amotekun Corps has profiled 750 crime suspects and arraigned 175 among them in the first quarter of the year.
The Corps Commander, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye disclosed this while parading another 31 crime suspects arrested in the last two weeks across the 18 local government areas of the state on Wednesday.
According to him, the feat achieved through joint operations (Operation Dada) by security agencies in the state has stemmed rising kidnap incidents and attacks on farmers by armed herdsmen in farmsteads in the state.
Adeleye, who disclosed that the support of the populace contributed to the achievements of the formation, said timely information from the people assisted them a great deal in nabbing some of the suspects and preventing some from carrying out their heinous plans.
He ayid that over 500 distress calls were received by the formation to which prompt responses were made.
Adeleye said 114 persons, who stormed the forests in the state without specific destination, were intercepted by the Amo Rangers.
He added that on the order of the state governor, Dr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, that all those who do not have credible reason to remain the forest should be ejected, they were sent back to their various states.
He also informed that a sum of 5000USD was recovered from the syndicate that specialized in defrauding unsuspecting persons through US Visa, and the owners, who were from Ghana, have received the money.
The 28 Ghanaians, among the several victims of the scam, have been advised to return to their country.
As part of the efforts to stem crimes in the state, the Corps Commander revealed that out of 150 suspected cultists arrested and profiled during the quarter, 80 among them were taken to court to sign undertaking to denounce the groups.
He said, besides the 175 suspects arraigned, others were still undergoing different stages of investigation.
He explained that among the fresh 31 crime suspects being paraded, 13 among them were allegedly linked to the series of kidnap incidents that had taken place in the state in the recent time.
Some of them were people supplying daily needs of kidnappers in their dens.
Akogun Adeleye also called on the people of the state to be wary of scavengers who are working as spies for bandits and kidnappers.
He disclosed that Governor Aiyedatiwa has promised to outlaw scavenging in the state after concluding arrangement for refuse disposal across the 18 local government areas of the state.
The Corps Commander disclosed that 32 persons arrested for riding commercial motorcycle between 8:00pm and 5:00 am were forgiven being first offenders.
