Amotekun parades 20 suspects for robbery in Ondo

By Akintunde Jacobs, Akure

No fewer than 20 armed robbery suspects have been paraded on Thursday in Akure, the Ondo State capital, by the Ondo State Security Network, otherwise known as Amotekun Corps.

Among the suspects were juvenile armed robbers who adopted names of renowned notorious armed robbers in the country.

The leader of the gang, 16-year-old Ojo Sunday, who claimed he was named Oyenusi by people in his neighbourhood in Ijare, Ifedore Local Government Area of the state having discovered his prowess is robbery, said they were usually armed by one Odeyemi Ayodele (20), who claimed to be a farmer.

Timilehin Femi, also known as Anini, who was also arrested and paraded with his mother, Iyabo Femi, said it was his mother who usually fortified him and his gang with charms so that they won’t be arrested.

Odeyemi, who also adopted the name of a notorious armed robber, Monday Osunbo, who terrorized the old Bendel State, admitted that he only released the dane gun to the boys and not the double barrel rifle.

He confessed that he was usually given N2000 per every outing by the boys whenever they returned from operations.

Odeyemi’s mother, Kehinde Ayodele was arrested for aiding and abetting armed robbery.

The Commander of Amotekun Corps and Special Adviser(Security) to the state governor, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye disclosed that the kid armed robbers were arrested two years ago and remanded in juvenile home where he was later released.

But, according to him, they have advanced in armed robbery enterprise as they robbed people on the highway.

Akogun Adeleye disclosed that the formation had concluded investigation on the suspects paraded and their case would be forwarded to the Department of Public Prosecution for advice and arraigned.

However, the Amotekun commander disclosed that the Corps has embarked on 24 hours operations to check criminals during the Easter celebration.

He called on parents be cautious of outings they take the children and warned not to leave their children in the care alone whenever they go shopping.

Akogun Adeleye revealed that some criminals lurk around public places and trace vehicles in which children were onboard to their homes where they would kidnap the children when parents were about opening the gate of their homes.

Meanwhile, the Ondo state Workers under the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), have donated no fewer than 30 motorcycles to Amotekun corps in order to aid their operations in the state.

Presenting the motorcycles to the State Amotekun Commander on Thursday at the Governor’s office in Akure, the JNC and NLC chairmen, Comrades Oluwaniyi Fabunmi and Sunday Adeleye said, “What led to the gestures is based on the fact that with the creation of Amotekun, you will realise that government is not using it for mere colouration, and we have not seen any political party condemn the Amotekun in the state.”

According to them, the Amotekun was not created for any other reason but to protect lives and property of the entire citizens of Ondo state.

“Labour leaders felt that what can we do is to help and assist the corps in order to collaborate and support their efforts in fighting crimes in the state,” they said.

They, however, called on stakeholders to join hands in supporting the lovely ideals.

Dare Aragbaiye, the SA to the Governor on Labour Matters and Special Duties, who spoke on behalf of the State Governor, thanked the labour leaders for the gestures, saying “it is not common anywhere particularly in this part of the world.

“Ondo state workers are the best you can find anywhere, they are doing it for any course but because of the safety of the good people of the state. Security and welfare of Ondo state people are very important.

“Our workers in Ondo state are not just special, they are also contributing to a special course like Amotekun under the leadership of Akogun Adetunji Adeleye.

“I want to say that this is big challenge to others stakeholders in Ondo state. This is a clarion call to stakeholders and everyone to emulate this good gestures of our workers in Ondo state to support the Amotekun. Let us join hands to support Amotekun, this is our hope of securing the state,” Aragbaiye said.