The Ondo State Government has set up a joint task force to tackle the spate of insecurity that has been bedeviling the state in recent weeks.

While disclosing this at the weekend, the Commander of Amotekun Corps in the state, Adetunji Adeleye, stressed that the move became imperative to ensure the optimal security of lives and property across the state.

Some communities, particularly in Akure North Local Council Area of the state, have recently faced attacks by armed herders, with about 30 farmers killed and many injured.

According to Adeleye, while parading some kidnap suspects at the corps headquarters in Alagbaka, Akure, the state capital, security agencies are determined to flush out criminals from the state.

The Amotekun boss, who revealed that normalcy had returned to the affected communities, appealed to residents to provide timely and actionable information.

He said, “In recent times, we have had an upsurge in criminal activities. The officers and men of the Ondo State security network mobilized additional support from the neighboring local government and entered the forest reserves and areas noted for these nefarious activities.

“In the last week, we were able to arrest 32 suspects for kidnapping who are undergoing different stages of interrogation. We want to reassure the residents of Ondo State that with the effort put in place by the government of Ondo State, all security agencies have been drafted to flush out these criminals from their hideouts.

“As a result of the recent killings in the Akure North axis, officers and men from all security agencies, including Amotekun, have been patrolling the area, and I’m glad to let you know that as we speak, normalcy has been restored in those areas. We are talking about Ago Dada, Ago Iyinbo, Ago Ademekun, and their environs.

“We want to reassure the residents that they can continue their normal farming activities, as the government has established a joint task force to stabilize the very remote areas of Akure North, where these nefarious activities take place.

“In order to drive home our point, the leadership of Miyetti Allah was invited; you can see them here, and they have pledged to support the Corps in fishing out the bad eggs to such an extent that both the forests and the cities in the state will be safe.

“With this, we need the support of the good people of the state to join hands with the government and the security agencies by providing timely and actionable information whenever any suspicious movement is observed.”