…parades 48 criminal suspects

By Tola Gbadamosi

In its continued efforts at checkmating criminal activities in Ondo State, the Ondo State Security Network Agency codenamed Amotekun Corps, has launched Operation Safeground.

The newly launched initiative would be more than before, fight criminal activities both at weekends and holidays.

The State Commander of the Amotekun Corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye made the disclosure today (Monday), while parading 48 suspected criminals who engaged in kidnapping, stealing and violation of the anti-grazing law.

He revealed, that the 48 suspects being paraded were arrested for various criminal activities ranging from kidnapping, theft, burglary, impersonation, violation of anti-grazing law, vandalism, among others.

Akogun Adeleye also revealed, that “As the Ileya festival fast approaches, the corps would as from tomorrow, deploy 1,000 men across the state, especially at the borders, prayer grounds, market places and churches to guarantee the safety of life and property during the coming holidays.

“We are committed to protecting the citizens during this forthcoming Eid-el-Kabir festival and arrangements have been concluded to deploy 1,000 men to every nooks and crannies of the state to achieve that and ensure peace reigns before, during and after the festival.

“We want to also, ascertain, that residents of the state enjoy their holiday and sleep with their two eyes closed without fear of being molested”, he assured.

He hinted, that the state Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has directed the corps to immediately launch the ‘Operation Safeground’ to ensure the safety of people of the state to enable them to carry out their business activities without fear or molestation by criminal elements.

According to him; “There have been complaints about the activities of miscreants and criminals parading major towns in the state carting away valuables of people during the weekends, thereby disturbing the peace of residents.

“The inauguration of the initiative, according to him, would lead to the creation of more control points on virtually every street in major towns of the state to curb criminal activities of hoodlums.

“We observed that miscreants and criminals are taking over the major cities and we also noticed, that on Sundays and when people go to work, these miscreants burgle resident’s houses and cart away with their valuables.

“The complaints became unbearable in the last few weeks and this ugly trend compelled Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to direct that ‘Operation Safeground’ be launched today.

“To the residents of the state capital and the major towns in the state, you will start observing like before, control points and security points in virtually every street in the state to curb the notorious activities of these vandals that robs people of their valuables.

According to him “In Isua, we found out that so many transformers have been stolen, so many cables servicing the transformers have been vandalised and taken away.

“By the grace of God and the support of the residents, Amotekun personnel have been able to break that terrible cartel, we were able to arrest about three different groups and these groups sell the looted products to a particular person who is at large, but assured that the long hand of the law will soon catch up with him.

Speaking further, he said; “We also have those that specialise in uprooting cables from buildings under construction and uncompleted buildings, we found out that these cables are burn and the copper removed and sold to this godfather of criminals called Abubakar Muhammed that is at large.”

The Amotekun Commander, however, assured the public that the corps would continue to ensure the protection of lives and properties of the good citizens at all times.