The state security outfit known as Amotekun has apprehended 23 individuals suspected of kidnapping along with 44 other suspected criminals who have been causing fear among the residents of Ondo State.
Among the suspected kidnappers apprehended by the security outfit were three individuals identified as Taiwo Adeola, Juwon Olanrewaju, and Olajide Olayemi.
Chief Adetunji Adeleye, the state commander of Amotekun, announced during a parade in Akure that a total of 67 suspects were arrested in their operations across the state within the past two weeks.
Adeleye said: “The 67 criminals were arrested within the last two weeks of rounding up of operation ember months programmes that we embarked on.
“A good number of them were suspected kidnappers while others were identified by their victims.
“Some of them were arrested with different types of weapon, some of them housebreaking tools, some suspected robbers and murderers.
“Out of these 67, we have three that could be regarded as jailbirds.
“One of them escaped from Benin, according to him, where he was answering charges bordering on kidnapping and robbery.
“Another one, who claimed to be running away from fellow kidnappers because he was not joining them again, we were able to arrest him in what he termed his last operation in kidnapping, before we arrested him.
“He told us he is a member of a seven team kidnap group terrorising Uso/eEmure/Owo axis. These are cross sections of criminals troubling the peace of the state.
“The major reason for parading them is to send the signal to criminals that Ondo State cannot tolerate them and the government is resolute in ensuring that the peace and stability of the state is not disturbed by them.”