The Ondo State Security Network, Amotekun, has rescued three kidnapped passengers and arrested four suspects linked to kidnapping, attempted abduction and fraud.
The commander of Amotekun in the state, Adetunji Adeleye, paraded the suspects in Akure. He said the arrests were made during several operations carried out in the past 48 hours under Operation Le Won Jade, supported by border patrol teams and the ongoing ember month security watch.
Adeleye said the corps moved in after receiving reports of heavy gunfire inside a forest. A rapid response team was deployed and later joined by local security groups.
According to him, “On entering the forest where the incident occurred, our men came under heavy attack. At the end of the operation, we successfully rescued four of the five kidnapped passengers, though the bus driver was shot dead when the attackers tried to stop the vehicle.”
He said the rescue mission lasted more than three hours as operatives combed different parts of the forest. Those rescued include three women and the bus conductor. One of the women, who sustained gunshot wounds, was treated and stabilised at Amotekun’s health facility.
Two of the suspected kidnappers accused of firing at operatives and killing the bus driver were arrested during the operation.
Adeleye said Amotekun also stopped an attempted abduction involving a female correctional service officer. He explained that the suspects pretended to be visitors to inmates and offered to help the officer get to town before trying to kidnap her. She escaped after raising an alarm near the Amotekun outpost at Cathedral Junction, where operatives rescued her and arrested the suspects.
He added that another suspect was arrested for allegedly defrauding his employer of 77.2 million naira, attempting to sell her property and issuing death threats.
Adeleye said Amotekun is working closely with the military, police, DSS, civil defence, vigilantes and local hunters to improve security across the region. He assured residents that major roads, communities and public areas across the Southwest are being strengthened to maintain safety.
