TheCable

The Ondo command of the south-west security network, also known as Amotekun, has paraded 43 suspected criminals in the state.

Adetunji Adeleye, commander of Amotekun in Ondo, said on Monday that almost half of the suspects were arrested over offences relating to kidnapping.

He said the heavy presence of security agents in Ekiti following the recent kidnappings in the state, has led to an influx of criminals to neighbouring Ondo.

“Today, we have 43 suspected criminals picked from across our various operations across the 18 Local Government Areas of Ondo State,” he said.

“The astonishing thing about our parade today is the sudden upsurge in the suspects that we have on kidnapping.

“About half of the 43 are suspected kidnappers that we have reasonable reasons to question.

“We have over 50 suspects, but that we have reason to question why they were where they were, and what we found on them. 

“I want to trace this to the heavy presence of security personnel in Ekiti and I want to believe that they are being driven to Ondo State. But we want to tell you that Ondo State can never be a haven for criminals. 

“We have risen to the challenge and all of them that we have picked in kidnap scenes, during kidnap, and during attempts to kidnap, with credible victims around to identify some of them, are the ones we are parading today.”

Last month, Amotekun also paraded 19 suspected kidnappers in the state. Adeleye had said the security outfit is committed to preventing abductions for ransom in the state.