The Ondo State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun Corps, has rescued a woman and her two children from kidnappers in the Isinigbo-Osi axis of Akure North Local Council of the state.

The victims were rescued after residents raised a distress call, prompting Amotekun operatives to swiftly mobilise to the area and confront the abductors.

The operation, according to the state commander of the corps, Adetunji Adeleye, resulted in the safe recovery of the three victims and the arrest of one of the suspected kidnappers.

Adeleye disclosed this yesterday while parading 10 suspects arrested for various offences at the corps headquarters in Akure.

The suspects included alleged kidnappers, members of a motorcycle theft syndicate, church burglars and a serial housebreaker.

Recounting the rescue operation, Adeleye said he received the distress call directly from the community and immediately ordered the deployment of operatives.

He said the operation also demonstrated the importance of cooperation between security agencies and local communities, particularly the Fulani community, which helped operatives identify suspects without resorting to ethnic profiling.

“A locally made firearm was recovered from one of the suspects,” he added.

Adeleye said the corps had recorded a significant decline in criminal activities across the state, attributing the development to the sustained efforts of security agencies and community members.

Among the suspects paraded were two alleged kidnappers identified as Gambo, 27, and Murtala, 19.

Gambo was arrested behind Shasha in Akure while allegedly negotiating ransom for a kidnap victim. Adeleye said the suspect was unaware that Amotekun operatives and their informants were monitoring his activities.

Murtala, according to the commander, was arrested with a locally made firearm and other weapons after allegedly attempting to kidnap the wife of his former employer in Molege, Owo.

He said the suspect had gained access to the woman’s residence when the husband and other family members woke up and raised the alarm.

They subsequently mobilised Amotekun operatives and members of the Fulani community, who cordoned off the area and arrested him.

Adeleye said Murtala later confessed to involvement in several kidnapping operations.

Also paraded were Joseph, 25, and Friday, 20, who were allegedly involved in a syndicate that stole and resold motorcycles.

According to Adeleye, the suspects sold stolen new motorcycles for as little as N70,000 each, with one member of the syndicate keeping the stolen motorcycles and facilitating their sale.

He said the corps would sustain its collaboration with communities and other security stakeholders to prevent criminal elements from gaining a foothold in the state.