Several women and young persons carrying household items and personal belongings have been intercepted by the Ondo State Security Network Agency, otherwise known as Amotekun Corps, while moving into forests in the state under suspicious circumstances.

While raising alarms about possible criminal infiltration strategies due to the development, the Commander of Amotekun Corps, Adetunji Adeleye, disclosed that the interceptions occurred across multiple local council areas over the past two weeks.

According to Adeleye, those intercepted were heading towards the troubled Ose/Owo forest corridor under the guise of farming activities, as well as a separate case where a suspect who invited only two workers was allegedly met with 51 additional arrivals inside the forest.

The Amotekun boss disclosed this while parading no fewer than 97 suspected criminals at the corps headquarters in Akure, the state capital.

Adeleye disclosed that the operation led to the dismantling of several criminal syndicates responsible for insecurity in some parts of the state.

He said the suspects were arrested for various offences, including kidnapping, armed robbery, burglary, vehicle hijacking, theft and violations of the state’s anti-open grazing law.

According to Adeleye, some of those arrested had confessed to working as informants and suppliers for kidnappers operating in forests across the state, while others were identified as active members of kidnapping gangs.

“Upon interrogation, some claimed they were fleeing security challenges in the North. However, investigations revealed that some had been invited into the forests by individuals already residing there.”

“We have a total of 97 suspects arrested across the 18 local government areas of Ondo State within the last 14 days. Some were arrested in connection with kidnapping cases, others for robbery, burglary, vehicle theft and open grazing violations,” he stated.

The Amotekun Commander also revealed that operatives dismantled a vehicle theft syndicate operating within the state and recovered several stolen vehicles, some of which were displayed during the parade.

Adeleye further revealed that Amotekun arrested suspects linked to armed robbery and kidnapping operations in Ikare, Kajola, Akure, Ilu-Abo, Akure North and other communities across the state.

The corps also uncovered a criminal network whose members allegedly pretended to be mentally ill in order to gather intelligence for criminal groups.

“We arrested two people who were feigning mental illness. They confessed that they were being paid to provide information. Investigations showed that some even obtained medical cards from hospitals as part of the deception,” Adeleye said.

The commander explained that operatives also dismantled a notorious robbery syndicate known for invading homes at night while posing as guests.

He said the suspects would gain entry into residences without raising suspicion, lock occupants indoors, seize their phones and force them to transfer money into designated accounts before stealing vehicles and fleeing. (edited)