TheCable

Adetunji Adeleye, Ondo state commander of the south-west security network, code-named Amotekun, says 31 suspects have been arrested for crimes like kidnapping, rape, burglary, and rituals.

Adeleye, who spoke while parading the suspects, alleged that over 9,000 herders entered the state in the last one month.

While expressing concern over the sudden influx, he said the herders entered the state through border towns at night.

He noted that they always come into Ondo through the border communities in Edo, Kogi and Ekiti states with large numbers of cattle to perpetrate crimes.

The Amotekun commander said the herders come into the state via trucks with loads and would not allow security patrols to search them.

However, he added that the “illegal herders” have been chased back.

“The reality is that in the last month, we have a very heavy annoying unusual influx of herdsmen to the state. We have to drive them back to where they came from,” Adeleye said.

“In the last one month, we are confronted with over 9,000 herders against the laws of the land. They moved them at midnight and they masquerade as different forms of criminals.

“So, the trend has been on for a long time, especially in the last month but we’re now working on different modalities of ensuring that herders that are legitimate to be in the state are there.

“And the ones who are criminals and are not supposed to be in the state are driven out of our forest.

“Also, we are making efforts towards the border towns of state because we notice that those that find their way now to Ondo is through Ekiti state.”

Adeyeye said only herders who are registered with the government would be allowed in the state, warning the illegal ones to steer clear.

Speaking on the suspects nabbed by the local security outfit, Adeleye said many of them were arrested during the Easter holidays in various locations.