Amotekun arrests kidnapper during ransom negotiation in Ondo

The Ondo State Security Network Agency, known as Amotekun Corps, has arrested two suspected kidnappers, including a 27-year-old man allegedly apprehended while negotiating a ransom payment.

The state commander of the corps, Adetunji Adeleye, disclosed this on Monday while parading 10 suspects arrested for various offences across Ondo State.

Adeleye identified the suspected kidnapper arrested during the ransom negotiation as Gambo, saying Amotekun operatives and informants tracked him to the Shasha area of Akure.

He said Gambo was negotiating ransom demands when security operatives closed in and arrested him, adding that the suspect was unaware that he was being monitored.

Another suspect, identified as 19-year-old Murtala, was arrested with a locally made firearm and other weapons after allegedly attempting to abduct the wife of his former employer in Molege, Owo.

According to Adeleye, Murtala gained access to the woman’s residence with the intention of kidnapping her but fled into trouble after the family raised an alarm, prompting residents and security operatives to intervene.

The commander also disclosed that Amotekun operatives recently rescued a woman and her two children from suspected kidnappers around the Isinigbo/Osi axis following a distress call.

“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,” he said.

Adeleye said investigations had shown that one of the suspects confessed to participating in several kidnapping operations and had allegedly planned to target his former employer’s family.

He commended members of the Fulani community for providing information that assisted security operatives in identifying and apprehending suspected criminals.

The remaining eight suspects paraded by the corps were arrested for offences including motorcycle theft, armed robbery, church burglary and housebreaking.

Adeleye said the arrests demonstrated the commitment of security agencies to tackling criminal activities across the state.

He attributed the reported decline in crime to sustained security operations and intelligence gathering, assuring residents that security personnel would continue to intensify surveillance and respond promptly to threats.

The commander urged residents to remain vigilant and provide security agencies with relevant information to support efforts to protect lives and property across Ondo State.