The Ondo State Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun Corps, has revealed that its efforts in combating crime in the state have significantly contributed to boosting the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state by 500 per cent.

While vowing not to relent in its drive to tackle criminality in various parts of the state, the Commander of Amotekun in the state, Adetunji Adeleye, disclosed that the corps is not only apprehending criminals but also unmasking their sponsors.

Adetunji stated this on Tuesday while parading no fewer than 28 suspects, who were arrested for various crimes at the corps headquarters in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

According to Adeleye, Amotekun is poised to dismantle the networks sustaining criminal activities in the state, adding that some of the suspects were apprehended for offences ranging from kidnapping, armed robbery, rape, cattle rustling and vandalism to burglary and illegal possession of firearms.

He said, “Today, I am parading a total of 28 suspects, and I want to let you know that the criminal world is evolving. Therefore, the Ondo State Security Network Agency, Amotekun, always strives to be ahead of them.

“We have now gone beyond arresting criminals and suspects alone. As we talk now, we are after their godfathers and backbones, and the reason is simple. So we are saying that until we uproot them, we won’t have total peace.

“We need the socio-economic growth of Ondo State to continue to increase. By the intervention of Amotekun Corp, the IGR of Ondo State in 2023 increased by over 500 per cent, and we don’t want to relent. Hence, our fight is not against the criminals alone, but against their sponsors.

“I give you an example: as part of the people we are parading today, there is a section of them that steals, kills, murders riders and dispossesses them. They have already made market receivers, who, within minutes, dismantle and sell to those who will later assemble and sell. We’ve gone after them, and we’ve arrested the suspect, the sponsor, and all the other culprits.

“The chain of criminality had to be broken and uprooted, and that is the directive of His Excellency, the Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to create an enabling environment for investors to bombard Ondo State.

The Amotekun commander further stated that “So today, four suspected kidnappers were arrested in the Elegbeka area; they are Kwangi, Kwanji, Kana, Sam, and Daniel, aged between 18 and 27. On rape and fraud, we have Abiola, aged 24. We have equally on defilement, rape, and sexual assault, one Ogungbemi. And we have Tosin on assault. To the Fulani communities, their cattle were rustled and taken away from the Igbaraoke axis.

“We went after the Fulani that stole the cattle, retrieved the cattle, arrested the rustlers, who are Abubakar Musa and Umar Mohammed, aged 20, and returned the cows to the Fulani men.

“We equally have Obasi Ezekiel, who specialises in vandalising electrical materials across the state. And to a syndicate that engages in practically stealing laptops, phones, and burglary when people have gone to work and church. We have arrested six people, ranging in age from 29 years to 69. Their offence is conspiracy and breaking and stealing of laptops and stealing of motorcycles.

“We equally have a 69-year-old man who specialises in stealing Okada. He has boys who work for him; they hit them from the back and dispossess them of the Okada. We have one Dayo and Tosin who specialise in the stealing of pumping machines.

“We equally have Aliu, who was arrested in Poly Road, Owo, for breaking and stealing electrical materials; he was arrested with what he stole. We have a Yaris that was arrested for being in possession of firearms that are not licensed to him.”