THE Ondo State Security outfit, codenamed Amotekun, said it has arrested and paraded over 300 suspected criminals in the last three months.
Amotekun Commander, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, said the suspects were arrested across 15 locations in the 18 council areas of the state.
Adeleye said the development followed the increased influx of bandits into the South-West region, which has kept Ondo State authorities on high alert to ensure the safety of lives and property.
He said: “We rely heavily on grassroots intelligence. In the last three months, we arrested and paraded over 300 suspects across approximately 15 locations in the 18 local government areas of the state.
“Most of them were apprehended in connection with crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, housebreaking, and other minor offences.
“Some of these suspects have been prosecuted in court, while others had their cases resolved. Many of them remain in correctional centres across the state.
“We also have what we call Amotekun ambassadors, who operate discreetly within communities as part of our intelligence unit.
“These ambassadors move across towns and villages, gathering grassroots information to help identify bad actors who collaborate with criminals.
“This system has been yielding remarkable results for us. All the criminals we have apprehended so far were a result of the grassroots intelligence reports we received from villages and towns within the state.
“We have put in place some strategy that will make the state too hot for them to stay.”
Ondo youths lash Senator over silence on insecurity
Meanwhile, the Ondo North Youth Alliance, ONYA, yesterday, lashed the lawmaker representing the Ondo North Senatorial District, Senator Jide Ipinsagba, for being insensitive to the security challenges faced in his constituency.
They, however, threatened to mobilise his recall over his failure to attend to the development of the area since his inauguration two years ago.
ONYA’s President, Ojo Bright Eniafe, expressed concern that the senator “has been insensitive to the rising insecurity caused by cultists in Ondo North, particularly Owo town, our lawmaker has been insensitive to the killings in the ancient town.”
Eniafe said: “The Senator’s silence on this issue is deafening, and shows his lack of concern and care about the welfare and safety of his constituents. As youths, we are tired of living in fear and uncertainty.
“We demand that Senator Ipinsagba show a modicum of responsibility to the wishes and aspirations of our senatorial district by playing a pivotal role and collaborating with institutions to ensure his constituents are safe.
“A little show of concern can be the deal breaker. We are poised to ensure that our communities, local government and the senatorial district are safe and secure.”
Speaking on the non-performance of the lawmaker, the youths alleged that he failed to execute meaningful projects in the constituency.
