The Ondo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun Corps) has arrested a father and his three sons over their alleged involvement in the kidnapping of a traveller in Oba Akoko, while also apprehending 24 other suspects for offences including armed robbery, cultism, rape, theft and breach of peace across the state.
The four suspects — 56-year-old Iliasu and his sons, Usman, 33, Wahab, 27, and Yakubu, 18 — were among 28 suspects paraded by the corps at its headquarters in Akure on Tuesday.
Speaking during the parade, the Commander of the Amotekun Corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, said the family had been under surveillance since 2024 over alleged kidnapping activities in Ondo North Senatorial District and allegedly used cattle rearing as a cover for their criminal operations.
“There is a particular suspect that we have been trailing since 2024 over kidnapping activities in the Northern Senatorial District. I am glad to inform you that the long arm of the law finally caught up with him during an operation carried out in the last four days,” Adeleye said.
According to him, the victim was abducted while travelling to Oba Akoko, and the family initially paid ransom without informing security operatives. Despite collecting the ransom, the abductors allegedly refused to release the victim and warned the family against reporting the incident.
“After collecting the ransom, they still refused to release the victim, which eventually prompted the family to report the matter to Amotekun. We immediately swung into action and discovered that a father and his three sons were directly involved, using cattle as a cover,” he added.
Adeleye said the suspects allegedly attacked Amotekun operatives during the rescue operation, but the victim was rescued with injuries inflicted by knives and cutlasses before being taken to hospital for treatment.
He disclosed that operatives recovered more than 75 per cent of the ransom paid, alongside drugs, alcoholic beverages, cigarettes and a material suspected to have been used as a blindfold.
The Amotekun commander said the remaining 24 suspects were arrested in separate operations for alleged kidnapping, armed banditry, robbery, cultism, rape, theft and breach of peace.
He reaffirmed the corps’ commitment to combating insecurity across the state, declaring that there would be no hiding place for criminals.
“There is no hiding place for criminals again, both in the forests and in the towns. The Amotekun Corps has been strategically positioned across all parts of the state to ensure that residents and commuters can go about their lawful activities without molestation,” Adeleye said.
