Amotekun b√sts armed robbery syndicate, rec0vers N300m

Amotekun busts armed robbery syndicate, recovers N300m

Operatives of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun, have dismantled a criminal syndicate notorious for raiding electronics stores across the South-West, arresting seven suspects and recovering stolen items valued at over ₦300 million.

Commander of the Amotekun Corps, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, disclosed this while parading the suspects at the agency’s headquarters on Friday. He described the arrests as a major breakthrough in ongoing efforts to combat kidnapping, armed robbery, burglary, and cult-related crimes across the state.

According to Adeleye, the arrested suspects were members of a coordinated theft ring that specialized in stealing electronics—mainly phones and gadgets—from stores in Lagos, and transporting them to Ondo State for resale.

He narrated how the syndicate used the Ojota Motor Park in Lagos as a transit point. One of the suspects, who boarded the same bus as the stolen items, repackaged the goods into empty cartons during the journey to avoid detection.

“The suspect’s suspicious behavior was noticed during a stop to refuel. Further investigation led to the recovery of the stolen items, which have been traced to a licensed electronics dealer in Ondo State,” Adeleye said.

He added that the recovered goods would be returned to their rightful owner following the completion of court processes.

In a related operation, Adeleye also revealed that Amotekun operatives rescued two kidnap victims abducted along the Akure/Itaogbolu Road in Akure North Local Government Area. The kidnappers had demanded ₦50 million as ransom but the victims were rescued after a 96-hour search in the forest without any payment being made.

“We continue to advise residents against paying ransom,” Adeleye said. “Encouragingly, most kidnap cases in the past two months have been resolved without any ransom payment.”

Other suspects paraded included a gang leader who had been on the run for six months, a repeat offender who jumped bail and fled to Kano before being tracked and rearrested, and a suspect involved in violent clashes with herders.

Adeleye reaffirmed the Amotekun Corps’ unwavering commitment to flushing out criminal elements and ensuring the safety of all residents in Ondo State.