The Ondo State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun Corps, has revealed that it has successfully prosecuted approximately 2,000 criminals since its establishment in the state two years ago.
Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, the Commander of Amotekun in the state, shared this information while discussing the corps’ activities in the capital city of Akure on Wednesday.
Adeleye further mentioned that the corps has obtained favorable judgments in more than 1,500 cases during the specified period.
He said, “In the last two years, we have prosecuted over 2,000 criminals and we have secured judgements in favour of the government for not less than 1,500 criminal charges.
“We built Amotekun court to support the judiciary when the turn out of criminals per day outweighed what the judiciary had facilities for. As we speak, there are many who have been prosecuted by Amotekun and the office of the Attorney-General of Ondo State.”
Adeleke indicated that Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has given his approval for the establishment of security posts along the waterline in the Arimogija axis of Ose Local Government Area, as well as in the Akoko area.
He expressed confidence that the persistent security breaches in the Ose axis of Ose Local Government, characterized by frequent kidnapping incidents in recent times, will soon be resolved and become a thing of the past.
The commander stated further, “We still have some challenges in the Ose axis. We have done several clearance operations there, and most of the time, the Amotekun corps is accompanied by the military and other security agencies, but in most cases, these criminal elements only wait for us to go, after which they will cross the river and return.”
He emphasized the need for the country to have state police as he noted that it was the solution to the criminal at the grassroots.
“The solution to the grassroots insecurity in Nigeria is state police, anything short of that, we will only continue to merry-go-round without making any specific progress in the security sector. The fact remains that it will be difficult for a policeman who is from Jigawa State to navigate the terrain here effectively when pursuing criminals but an indigene will be able to do that.
“The fact that we have the grassroots intelligence and network is an advantage that cannot be overlooked. Hence, state police are the panacea to bring to an end criminal activities around us,” Adeleye submitted.
