As part of its efforts to secure the lives and properties of the residents of Ondo, the Ondo State Security Network Agency otherwise known as The Amotekun Corps has commissioned a new special force called Operation Safe Grounds.
The Commander of Amotekun Corps in the state Adetunji Adeleye dropped this hint on Monday while parading 48 suspected criminals apprehended by men of the corps across the state.
Adetunji observed that criminal activities have increased in towns and villages in the state in the last few weeks since the Amotekun Corps has driven criminals out of the forests.
According to him, this prompted Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to give a directive that the special Operation Safe Grounds be established to combat such an upsurge in crime.
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He said security points will be set up by Amotekun in all the towns and villages in the state to apprehend and bring criminals to justice.
Furthermore, Adeleye noted that one thousand men of the corps will be drafted across the state during the upcoming Eid El Kabir celebration.
The Amotekun boss said in the last few weeks, criminal activities such as vandalisation and stealing of electric transformers and cables have been rampant in the state, especially in Akure, the state capital.
One of the victims Blessing Adesunloye narrated that she was kidnapped along with he husband on their farm, in a farmstead near Ipele in Owo Local Government Area of the state by one Jubril and taken to the bush where they spent three days before being rescued by Amotekun.
One of the suspects Monday Adesomoju who was arrested for housebreaking and burglary confessed to having committed the crime. He broke into a house and stole a N65,000.
Another suspect, 17-year-old Audu Michael confessed that along with some friends they broke into a house and stole some household items. He said they were about selling the stolen goods before they were apprehended by Amotekun.
Other suspects paraded are being charged with illegal possession of firearms, floating the anti-open grazing law, snatching of motorcycles from unsuspecting riders, as well as impersonation of Amotekun operatives.
Items recovered from them include a generating set, mattress, motorcycles, sacks of cocoa beans, transformer cables as well as some electronic gadgets.
