The Ondo State Security Network, Amotekun Corps, has arrested a wanted kidnapper and three of his family members in Oba-Akoko.
The suspect, 33-year-old Usman, was on Amotekun’s watch list. He was caught in a forest hideout with a man he had kidnapped.
He was arrested alongside his younger brothers, 27-year-old Wahab and 18-year-old Yakubu, and their 56-year-old father, Iliasu.
Amotekun Commander, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, said the suspects were picked up in their forest hideout where they were holding the victim captive.
According to him, Usman had been on the run since 2024 until the formation received the information that he has arrived in the state to coordinate a kidnap operation.
About 13 suspects were paraded for kidnap cases, while another 15 suspects were paraded for other crimes on Monday at the headquarters of the formation at Alagbaka, Akure, the state capital.
Adetunji said: “There is a particular suspect that we have been trailing since 2024 over kidnapping activities in the Northern Senatorial District. I’m glad to let you know that the long arm of the law finally caught up with him in the operation we carried out in the last four days.
“In this same operation, the victim was kidnapped on his way to Oba Akoko and the family promptly arranged ransom without informing Amotekun.
“Despite the payment of the ransom, the kidnappers refused to release the victim. They also threatened the family not to report the incident. After collecting the ransom, they still refused to release the victim, which eventually brought the family to the Amotekun office, and we immediately swung into action.
“At the end of the day, we found a family, a father and three sons directly involved, using cattles as cover.
“In the course of the operation, they attacked our men, but we succeeded in rescuing the victim. At the point of torture, they had attacked the victim with knives and cutlasses on the head. We promptly rushed the victim to a nearby hospital and we were able to recover over 75 per cent of the ransom paid.
“Not only that, we equally recovered hard drugs, drinks, cigarettes and what looked like a camouflage used to cover the eyes of the victim.”
Speaking on other suspects, the Corps Commander said: “We also have Musa and Aruna on kidnap-related cases in Owo.
”On armed banditry, we have Mohammed, Tekasu, Rabi, Abubakar and Saibu, all arrested. We equally have Kalij and Adamu arrested in the same operation.
“On illegal possession of firearms, robbery and cultism, we have Ayodele, 26; Oluwatobi, 24; and Michael, 34, all arrested.
“On rape and stealing, we have Olagi, also arrested. In the Akure South axis, we have Idowu and Taiwo arrested for conspiracy and stealing of generator.
”Also in Akure South, we have Olatunde, 39; Abdul, 27; and Amodu David, all arrested in connection with conspiracy and stealing of food items.
”On breach of peace, we have Akpaba Felix, 30; Agbonuma Abigail, 25; Mak, 24; Kelvin, 24; Kuma, 27; and Tuk, 24, all arrested in Oke-Ijebu, Akure, for conspiracy and breach of peace.”
Adeleye declared that the state is safe for people to go about their businesses without any fear of molestation.
He disclosed that it was possible because of the synergy among all the security agencies in the state include Army, DSS, NSCDC, Police and Amotekun.
He added:”What we want to make clear is that there is no hiding place again, both in the forests and in the towns.
“The Amotekun Corps has been strategically positioned in all parts of the state to guarantee that commuters and residents can go about their activities unmolested.
“I also want to bring to your notice that other security agencies like the Police, the Army, the DSS and others collaborate with us to ensure that the state remains peaceful.
”I want to plead with the public to continue to support the Corps by providing actionable and timely information so that we can prevent rather than combat crime in the state.
