Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Ondo State Security Network Agency, popularly known as the Amotekun Corps, has arrested 10 suspected criminals in a series of intelligence-led operations across the state, successfully rescuing a woman and her two children from kidnappers in the process. Parading the suspects at the corps headquarters in Akure on Monday, August 24, 2026, the state commander, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, disclosed that two of the suspects were alleged kidnappers, while the remaining eight were arrested for various offences including motorcycle theft, armed robbery, and church burglaries. The successful operations, which involved close collaboration with members of the Fulani community, marked a significant victory in the fight against crime in Ondo State.
According to Commander Adeleye, the breakthrough began with a distress call from the Isinigbo/Osi area of Akure North Local Government Area, where a woman and her two children had been abducted. Amotekun operatives responded swiftly, arriving at the scene within minutes and engaging the kidnappers in a brief confrontation that led to the rescue of the victims. “I received a distress call directly from the Isinigbo/Osi area, and within five minutes, my men were there. After a brief scuffle with the kidnappers, we were able to rescue the woman and her two children from the claws of the kidnappers,” Adeleye recounted. The rescue operation, which demonstrated the effectiveness of rapid response and community cooperation, set the stage for the subsequent arrests of the suspected criminals.
Among the two kidnap suspects paraded were 27-year-old Gambo and 19-year-old Murtala. Gambo was arrested behind Shasha in Akure while allegedly negotiating ransom with the families of his victims, unaware that Amotekun operatives and informants were monitoring his activities. Murtala, on the other hand, was apprehended with a locally made firearm and other weapons while allegedly attempting to kidnap the wife of his former employer in Molege, Owo. Commander Adeleye revealed that Murtala had gained entry into the woman’s residence but was foiled after the husband and neighbours raised the alarm, mobilising Amotekun operatives and members of the Fulani community who cordoned off the area and arrested him.
The involvement of the Fulani community in the operations was particularly noteworthy. Commander Adeleye commended members of the Fulani community for assisting Amotekun in identifying suspected criminal elements among them, thereby preventing ethnic profiling and fostering trust between security agencies and the community. “The amazing part of this struggle is that the Fulani men who had joined us, as you can see, were the people who assisted us in identifying the kidnappers among them, so that we would not generalise,” Adeleye said. This collaborative approach not only led to the arrest of the suspects but also helped to build bridges between security agencies and the Fulani community, which has often been unfairly stigmatised in the context of crime and insecurity.
In addition to the kidnap suspects, Amotekun operatives arrested eight other individuals for various offences. Among them were 25-year-old Joseph and 20-year-old Friday, who were allegedly involved in a syndicate that stole and resold motorcycles, selling brand new motorcycles for as little as N70,000 each. Another suspect, Mustafa Aniliasu, was identified as a specialist in stealing motorcycles and burgling churches and mosques, with his latest act being the burglary of a church in Elegbeka. Other suspects included Duyilemi, who allegedly posed as an Okada rider in the evening and robbed passengers at knifepoint before stealing their motorcycles, and Kabiru, a suspected serial housebreaker who was arrested for stealing a gas cylinder. Wahab was arrested for allegedly stealing drum sets in Danjuma, while Aminu, 28, was arrested for burgling a church in the Sijuade area.
Commander Adeleye expressed satisfaction with the corps' efforts, noting a significant decline in criminal activities across the state, which he attributed to the sustained collaborative efforts of security agencies and community members. “We find out that there is a very drastic drop in criminal activities in the state, which is a plus to all the security agencies working assiduously to stamp out criminality in the state,” he stated. He reassured residents that the Amotekun Corps would continue to patrol the state and ensure that citizens could go about their normal activities without fear. The suspects, who are currently in custody, will be handed over to the police for prosecution.
The successful operations in Ondo State highlight the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing, rapid response, and community collaboration in combating crime. The involvement of the Fulani community in identifying suspected criminals among them is a commendable step towards building trust and fostering unity in the fight against insecurity. As the Amotekun Corps continues its efforts to maintain law and order, the people of Ondo State can take comfort in the knowledge that their security is being prioritised by a dedicated and professional security network.
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