The Ondo State Command of the Amotekun Corps has ramped up its efforts to combat crime across the state, leading to the arrest of eight individuals allegedly involved in kidnapping, robbery, and theft.

Speaking in Akure on Sunday, the State Commander of the Corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, revealed that seven of the suspects were apprehended for various offences, including kidnapping and the theft of electronic appliances. During these operations, the corps recovered stolen items estimated to be worth over ₦300 million.

Commander Adeleye highlighted the broader significance of their success, stating, “More than celebrating the arrest of criminals, we are celebrating the recovery of lives and properties. Our recent operations have significantly reduced incidents of kidnapping, armed robbery, burglary, and cult-related crimes.”

Further investigations revealed that some of the arrested individuals belonged to a criminal syndicate specializing in transporting stolen electronics and mobile phones from Lagos to Ondo State.

According to Adeleye, the group made use of the Ojota Motor Park as a transit hub. One of the suspects was reportedly involved in repackaging the stolen items mid-transit. However, the scheme was exposed during a fuel stop, which led to the interception and recovery of the goods.

Adeleye assured that the recovered electronics, which belonged to a licensed dealer based in Ondo, would be returned to the rightful owner upon obtaining a valid court order.

In a separate operation, the Amotekun Corps also successfully rescued two kidnap victims who had been held captive for four days. The victims were abducted along the Itagbolu road in Akure North Local Government Area and were rescued from a forest in the Ita Ogbolu area after 96 hours in captivity. According to the commander, the kidnappers had demanded a ransom of ₦50 million, but no payment was made before the victims were freed.

“We advise members of the public not to pay ransom to kidnappers. We are pleased to report that most kidnap cases in the last two months have been resolved without any ransom being paid,” Adeleye stated. He added that those responsible for the abduction had since been arrested and are now in custody.

The Ondo Amotekun Corps reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safety of residents and pledged to continue its crackdown on criminal elements across the state.