…Warns landlords against harbouring suspects
By Dayo Johnson, Akure
AKURE — The Ondo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun, has arrested 53 suspects in connection with alleged kidnapping, robbery, cultism, illegal immigration and other offences across the state.
The state Commander of the corps, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, disclosed this while parading the suspects in Akure, saying 21 foreign nationals were arrested in two rented apartments in Owo.
Adeleye said the foreigners claimed to have entered Nigeria from neighbouring West African countries to engage in menial jobs and phone repairs, allegedly with the assistance of some indigenes.
He said: “We have 21 of them who rented only two apartments in Owo under the guise of coming in from neighbouring West African countries to do menial jobs and phone repairs, being coordinated and assisted by indigenes.
“We found out that they don’t even have ECOWAS papers to guarantee their stay. Their landlords, because of the high cost of rent they collect from them, do not know who they are; they just collect money and leave them.
“As far as the law is concerned, they are conspirators to the crime. Most times, when their sponsors abandon them, they become ready tools for criminals and accomplices.”
The commander consequently warned landlords against renting apartments to persons without verifying their identities and immigration status.
Giving a breakdown of other arrests, Adeleye said four suspected kidnappers — Mubarak, 27; Muhammad, 35; Nura, 25; and Ismaila, 21 — were arrested along the Osi/Igbo-Akoko axis.
He said four others — Daniel, 45; Monday, 43; Godday, 37; and Uba, 35 — were arrested in Igbese for alleged conspiracy.
According to him, three suspects — Saleh, 18; Muhammad, 21; and Usman, 49 — were arrested in the Akoko South-East/Isua axis over alleged kidnapping.
He added that other suspects were arrested in connection with alleged conspiracy, cultism, murder, rape, impersonation and cattle rustling in different parts of the state.
Adeleye listed Samuel Christopher, 18, as a suspect arrested in Irese, Akure, in connection with an alleged rape case.
He said six suspects — Hassan, 30; Eweje Idowu; Onina Ifeoluwa; Egotan Temitope; Eniabire Iranlowo; and Oladele Friday — were also arrested in the Ode-Aye/Okitipupa axis.
He added that Bala, 51, was arrested in Odode, Idanre, for alleged impersonation, while Abubakar, 24, was arrested in Ode-Aye/Okitipupa over alleged cattle rustling.
On recent abductions in Akure North, the commander said four of the seven suspects allegedly linked to attacks around Usi/Igoba had been arrested.
Adeleye also disclosed a case of alleged self-kidnapping, saying an individual who reported that his siblings had been abducted was later found to be an accomplice.
“Upon detailed investigation, we found out that the man who rushed to the Amotekun Corps office to report that his siblings were kidnapped turned out to be an accomplice.
“He led us to his home where we found the man they claimed had been kidnapped,” he said.
He added that seven other suspects were allegedly directly involved in kidnapping activities.
Adeleye commended the cooperation between Amotekun and Fulani farmers and herders in Akoko, saying the partnership contributed to the rescue of two kidnapped boys.
“With their cooperation, we jointly carried out an operation where a military uniform was recovered from one of the kidnappers. We successfully retrieved the two kidnapped boys, though wounded,” he said.
The commander also said two suspects were arrested for allegedly stealing electronic equipment from a church, adding that the stolen items had been recovered.
On reports of another regional security outfit, IrunEkun, Adeleye said Amotekun was established by law to complement the efforts of federal security agencies.
“Amotekun is a product of law, a baby of circumstance. So there is no way such an organisation can be a threat to Amotekun,” he said.
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