The Ondo State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun Corps, has arrested 98 suspected criminals linked to kidnapping, armed robbery, drug trafficking and other criminal activities across the state.
Among those arrested was a suspect who allegedly disguised himself as a mentally unstable person while carrying out criminal operations and gathering information for kidnappers.
The Commander of the Amotekun Corps in Ondo State, Adetunji Adeleye, disclosed this on Sunday while parading the suspects at the agency’s headquarters in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
According to Adeleye, the arrests followed several coordinated operations carried out by Amotekun operatives in different parts of the state in recent weeks.
He said the suspects were arrested for offences ranging from kidnapping and armed robbery to drug trafficking and other violent crimes threatening public safety.
The commander explained that out of the 98 suspects arrested, 60 were already facing prosecution in courts of competent jurisdiction.
He added that 38 other cases had been resolved through the Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR, mechanism, while 13 suspects were still undergoing investigation and interrogation before prosecution.
Adeleye further disclosed that 10 of the suspects were arrested either during kidnapping operations or while attempting to abduct victims.
Speaking on the suspect who allegedly pretended to be mentally unstable, the Amotekun commander said investigations uncovered a growing pattern where some criminals disguise themselves as mad persons to avoid suspicion while carrying out illegal activities.
According to him, some of the suspects used the disguise to monitor communities, gather intelligence for kidnappers and robbers, traffic drugs and move around unnoticed.
“Our intelligence and plainclothes officers monitored and tracked them to locations where they charged their phones, changed clothes and coordinate operations before they were arrested,” Adeleye said.
The revelation has raised fresh concerns among residents about the increasing sophistication of criminal activities in parts of the South-West region.
Residents in some parts of Ondo State have also complained in recent months about the growing number of suspicious persons roaming major roads, markets and motor parks.
The Amotekun commander said the corps had intensified intelligence gathering and undercover operations to tackle the trend before it spreads further.
He also announced the successful rescue of a kidnapped couple in the Iluwabu community without payment of ransom.
According to Adeleye, the operation began after security operatives received a distress call that armed kidnappers had abducted the couple and taken them into the forest.
He said the agency’s rapid response team immediately launched a rescue operation and moved into the forest in pursuit of the kidnappers.
The commander disclosed that the woman was rescued first during the initial phase of the operation while efforts continued overnight to secure the release of her husband.
“We reunited the family without any ransom payment or negotiation,” he said.
Kidnapping for ransom has become one of Nigeria’s major security challenges in recent years, with criminal gangs targeting travellers, farmers, business owners, students and even religious leaders.
While the problem was initially more common in northern states, incidents of kidnapping have increasingly spread to the South-West, including Ondo, Ekiti and parts of Ogun and Osun states.
Ondo State, in particular, has witnessed repeated attacks along highways, in farming communities and inside forest areas where kidnappers often establish hideouts.
The state government and security agencies have therefore intensified forest operations and joint security patrols in response to the growing threat.
Adeleye attributed the recent increase in kidnapping and related crimes in Ondo State partly to pressure on criminal groups fleeing intensified military operations and security crackdowns in northern parts of the country.
According to him, some criminal elements displaced from the North are attempting to relocate to forests and remote areas in southern states.
He, however, assured residents that Ondo State remained safe and that security agencies were working together to prevent criminals from gaining foothold in the state.
The commander said Amotekun had strengthened collaboration with the Nigerian Army, the police, the Department of State Services, DSS, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC.
He noted that joint operations had been intensified, especially in forests and boundary communities considered vulnerable to criminal attacks.
“Our forests are no longer safe havens for criminals. Security agencies are working together to protect lives and property,” Adeleye stated.
The Amotekun Corps was established by governors in the South-West in response to growing insecurity, particularly kidnapping, armed robbery and attacks on farming communities.
Since its creation in 2020, the security outfit has become a major part of local security operations in states such as Ondo, Oyo, Ekiti, Osun, Ogun and Lagos.
Supporters of the outfit argue that Amotekun has improved local intelligence gathering because many operatives understand the terrain and local languages better than outsiders.
However, the outfit has also faced criticism from some groups over allegations of rights abuses and concerns about overlapping responsibilities with federal security agencies.
Despite the criticisms, many residents in the South-West continue to support the corps because of its role in responding quickly to security threats in rural communities.
Adeleye used the occasion to appeal to members of the public to continue supporting security agencies with credible information.
He stressed that intelligence from residents remained vital in tracking criminal gangs and preventing attacks.
The commander assured the public that information provided to security agencies would be treated confidentially and used strictly for security purposes.
Residents have also been advised to remain vigilant, report suspicious movements and avoid providing shelter or assistance to unknown persons.
The latest arrests and rescue operations are expected to boost public confidence in ongoing efforts by security agencies to curb rising insecurity in Ondo State and other parts of the South-West.