TheCable

The Ondo state south-west security network, code-named Amotekun, says it has arrested a 16-year-old boy for breaking into 40 houses.

Speaking while parading 31 suspects arrested for alleged crimes in the state, Adetunji Adeleye, the corps commander, said the teenager adopted the name of the late notorious armed robber, “Oyenusi”, as his alias.

Adeleye said following the increasing rate of kidnapping in the country, the corps in conjunction with other security agencies commenced clearance operations to flush out kidnappers and other criminals from the forests and other strategic locations in the state.

“We re-arrested a young boy we arrested three years ago and took to juvenile for illegal possession of firearms and robbery,” he said.

“At that time, he was 13 years. The best we could do was to hand him over to a juvenile and see if he could be rehabilitated.

“Right now, he’s 16, this time around, he broke into a number of shops and removed items. Between then and now, he confessed that he had engaged in over 40 housebreakings.”

Giving a breakdown, Adeleye said while nine suspects were arrested for alleged kidnapping, five were picked for stealing.

He added that four were nabbed for vandalism, while 13 suspects were arrested for illegal possession of firearms, and house-breaking among others.

“Today, we have 31 suspects that have been terrorising different areas of Ondo state. All these 31 suspects were arrested within a week of operation across the 18 local government areas of the state,” he said.

“We have nine suspected kidnappers, they attempted to collect ransom from our men, thinking they were members of the family of their victims. We succeeded in arresting three of them which lead us to the remaining six in the Akoko axis.

“We also have five others from Irele LGA, arrested for stealing and reselling of motorcycles.

“We have another four from both Akure, Okitipupa and Irele LGAs that specialise in vandalising electrical cables, and high-tension wires.

“We have one from Okitipupa who attempted to attack our men with a gun. So, we are also charging him for illegal possession of a firearm.

“We turned our searchlights to the forests which used to be the hiding place for criminal activities, especially kidnapping because we found out that they’ve left the main cities, they operate at the nearest road and run back into the forestry reserves.

“So, it is time for them to park and leave Ondo state, otherwise, they will soon be paraded like their colleagues.”

The corps commander reassured the public of their safety, saying the state will not be a hiding place for criminals.