Operatives of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, better known as Amotekun, have stopped a seven-man gang from robbing three banks in Irele Local Government Area.
Amotekun said that the gang came from Sapele, Delta State, and had originally intended to rob three banks as well as embark on a kidnapping spree.
Briefing journalists on Thursday March 21, 2024, at the headquarters of the security group in Akure the Ondo State capital, Commander of the Corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, said the gang had also plotted to kidnap a businessman in the state.
Adeleye spoke while parading 36 other suspected criminals for various offences.
Although Amotekun operatives were able to apprehend the mastermind who accommodated the robbers, six of the armed robbers escaped and were at large, Adeleye revealed.
“We were equally able to get to the root of the target that they intended to kidnap to give the officers of Amotekun the feeling that it was mere robbery, whereas it was a dual operation,” he stated. “The manhunt for the leader who escaped to Delta State is on. We are liaising with relevant government and security authorities to assist us in apprehending this runaway gang
“The Intel available to us shows that they intended to rob three banks and kidnap the Managing Director of a supermarket. Investigations showed that they liaised with a staff of the supermarket who declined to join the group.”
He further explained that among the suspects are specialists in vandalism of critical government assets.
“They went with a trailer to load pipes meant for a World Bank-financed water project and successfully offloaded it but our operatives followed them and apprehended them where they offloaded at a different location,” Adeleye said.
He appealed to the residents of the state to continue to support the security network with timely and actionable information while pledging to always secure the lives and properties of the residents in conjunction with other security agencies in the state.
