The Ondo State Security Network, Amotekun Corps, has intercepted no fewer than 149 suspected criminals who were tucked inside trucks around black spots where heavy robbery operations and kidnappings occurred.
The Ondo State Commander of Amotekun, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, who disclosed this to the newsmen in the state on Tuesday, when parading the suspects, said they were arrested from various black spots in three local government areas.
Adeleye explained that the suspects claimed they were in Ondo State from the extreme parts of the country on a hunting expedition.
He said the suspects carefully concealed their weapons, bags of Indian hemps and cutlasses under their vehicles.
Adeleye said “The pertinent question we are asking them, is “why are they hiding their guns”? If they are genuine hunters, why not come out openly?”
The commander explained that one begins to wonder why they would come from the extreme parts of the country to hunt in a village, in a forest they have never been to before in Ondo state.
He elucidated that, No doubt, as Nigerians, they have the right to go anywhere in the country, but they do not have the right to go with weapons.
He clarified that as hunters they claimed they are, the corps had expected that they would have made consultations to find out their limitations.
Adeleye said “we have very strong reasons to believe that they are the people that turn to kidnappers, armed robbers and commit various crimes, especially in the bad portions of the roads and in the forest reserves of the state.”
Adeleye added “In Ondo State Forestry reserves, the government is very clear, that if you are a hunter and want to go into the forest, you have to register, so that the government, the kings and the hunters will know that you are there.”
Speaking further, the commander appealed to the commuters that if they have any reason to do thier legitimate business in Ondo State, they should please consult the relevant agencies, the Baales, the Kabiyesis and the good people of the state, as the state can no longer tolerate this kind of people without mission, entering the forest areas.
Adeleye however said “When we finish the investigation, we will send them to relevant government agencies for detailed profiling and those that would be sent back to their states will be sent back. Those we find guilty of criminal intentions will be tried in the court of competent jurisdiction.”
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