Amotekun arrests cattle rustlers, impounds 16 cows, guns in Ondo

• YCE urges South-West govs to energise security outfit
• Says relocation of Boko Haram to region sign of danger

The Ondo State Security Network, code-named Amotekun Corps, has arrested two suspected cattle rustlers and a herdsman, who have been terrorising parts of the state and attacking security corps.

The state’s Commander of Amotekun Corps, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, disclosed this, yesterday, during a media chat with journalists at the agency’s headquarters in Akure, the state capital.

He added that men of the security agency impounded 16 cows that destroyed farmers’ crops at Osi community in Akure North Local Council of the state, while unauthorised guns and other weapons were recovered.

Adeleye said that over 100 suspects had been arrested by the security agency in the state since it started operations.

He said: “Some farmers from Osi community ran to the office complaining that their farms had been destroyed by herdsmen.

“On getting there, they attacked our men with knives and other dangerous weapons. We were able to arrest one of them named Abdulkadir Mohammed.”

Adeleye, who stated that the Amotekun Corps had recovered a Nissan Serena bus marked LAGOS FJ 423 KRD brought by the suspected rustlers to steal cows belonging to Alhaji Ilyasu, said: “Alhaji Ilyasu, a Fulani man came to us that some people came with a Serena bus to steal their cattle. They came to us and we sent our men out. We were able to recover the vehicle they wanted to use in stealing the cows. We also recovered the cows.

“We were able to trace some of the rustlers that ran away to somewhere in Ogun State. We have apprehended one Sudauna Gombe and one Ogunyale Sola, who was the driver of the abandoned Serena bus.

“We have handed them over to the Agro Department of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for detailed investigation.

He, however, urged the Miyetti Allah leaders to appeal to their members to desist from destroying farmlands and live peacefully with the residents and host communities.

IN another development, the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) has said that the South-West is clearly in danger following the statement credited to Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State that some fleeing Boko Haram insurgents have relocated to the region where they now operate as kidnappers.

Secretary-General of YCE, Dr. Kunle Olajide, who spoke with The Guardian in Ibadan, yesterday, said the development was a clear manifestation of a failed security apparatus.

Olajide, therefore, urged the governors of the region to energise Amotekun Corps to protect the people.