TheCable

Adetunji Adeleye, Ondo state commander of Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN), codenamed Amotekun, says the outfit has arrested no fewer than 7,000 criminals since its creation in 2020.

Adeleye, who doubles as the special adviser (security matters) to the governor, spoke in Akure during an interactive session with journalists on Monday.

The corps commander said out of the 7,000 arrested, about 1,500 have been prosecuted while judgments have been secured on many. 

Adeleye added that Amotekun has also doused the farmers/herders clashes by over 95 percent in the last two years. 

“The DSS has often assisted us in getting the requisite geolocation of kidnap victims and suspects,” he said. 

“All these coupled with our local intellect and unconventional methods had assisted us in arresting, to date, well over 7,000 suspected criminals out of which 1,500 of them have been charged to court.

“We’ve even secured judgments of very many of them.

“At a time when the turnout of criminals was becoming unmanageable for the judiciary, the government of Oluwarotimi Akeredolu graciously approved the building of two courts to assist the judiciary in prompt dispensation of justice.”

Adeleye said the birth of the Amotekun corps has made the state to be adjudged as one of the most peaceful in the country.

“We are all living witnesses to the fact that today, Ondo state ranks as one of the safest states in this country,” he said. 

“What we have right now in Ondo state is pockets of violence in border areas.”

He also said the implementation of the anti-open grazing law in the state has been an added advantage for the agency.

“The good story about it is that, at a point in time, the government came up with an anti-open grazing law which further enhances our position in enforcement and the terms of the law was clear,” he said.

“No underage grazing, no night grazing, no grazing on the major roads to cause accident, no grazing in the metropolis and all forms of transportation of cows, trailers and trucks should be used.

“The punishment ranges from several months imprisonment and payment of fines including the cost of logistics of the enforcement.

“Two years after, the issue of farmers/herders clashes reduced by over 95 percent. We only have pockets of clashes and of course, they know the implication. 

“We had taken quite a number of erring herders to court. We’ve equally taken farmers who took laws into their hands and seized Fulani cows to court for stealing.

“This is to show the position of the government that herders have a right to their herds but not at the expense of farmers or any other members of the society.”