Metro

Ondo Amotekun Arrests 80 Suspected Criminals

Published

3 years ago

January 30, 2023

The Ondo State Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun, has arrested no fewer than 80 people for allegedly being involved in criminal activities in the state .

The corps said the suspects were arrested since the beginning of the year 2023.

Speaking on the development, the state Commander of Corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, said the suspects were arrested at different locations across the 18 local government areas of the state.

According to him, 32 of the suspects have been charged to court while investigations were ongoing on some of the cases pertaining to the suspects.

Adeleye said, ”In the last three weeks, 80 criminals were arrested. In the last one week, about 32 were taken to court for prosecution, investigations are going on in most of these ones and some of them at the end of the day were found to be victims of circumstances, like those that comes out without a means of identification at odd hours and were found where they are not supposed to be.

“Those ones upon proper interrogation were released to go while some were released on bail.

“But what we have here is about 36 men and women engaged in various criminal activities ranging from murder, to anti-grazing, stealing of motorcycles, stealing of grinding machine, stealing of keke napep, stealing of various household equipment including generators, and armed robbery.

“Majority of these ones have concluded the investigations, and sone of them will be going to court early in the week next (this) week. This is what we have been able to put together since the last three weeks.

“A criminal is a criminal, regardless of where they come from. We don’t want to give colour to criminality, a criminal is a criminal.

“Once you engage in criminal activities, the signal we are sending is that Ondo State is a place where you can’t thrive as a criminal. The criminals should better leave Ondo State, not only within the town, but within the forest.

“Some of these criminals were arrested right inside the forest. Again, the anti open grazing law is in force in Ondo State where we discouraged the use of underaged for grazing, especially when they engage in destruction of farm products.

“Some of them engaged in very massive destruction. We arrested some of those that were engaged in the destruction of one of the principal officers of PDP that went viral, saying that his farm was destroyed. We caught them and we brought them to book.”

Adeleye added, ”In the last two weeks, we observed an increase in the rate of missing people within the town. And our discreet investigations reveal that most of these people board Okada that are not registered with SITA and are not registered with the okada association, even their bikes are not registered at all.

“So it becomes very difficult to identify them and the majority of the victims that manage to escape that we interrogate thereafter, told us that those kidnappers put on hoods and put helmets on it.”

The Amotekun boss noted the arrests were successful following the collaboration with other security agencies.

Metro

PHOTOS: Borno Woman Recovers N23m Gold Buried During Boko Haram Escape

Published

2 hours ago

December 1, 2025

Editor

The Borno State Police Command has helped a woman residing in the Mallam Fatori area recover gold worth ₦23.6 million that she buried in sand while escaping a Boko Haram attack 15 years ago.

The unearthed gold
In a statement on Monday, the Public Relations Officer of the command, ASP Nahum Daso, said the state police commissioner, Naziru Abdulmajid, commended the Divisional Police Officer of Mallam Fatori and his team for their exemplary professionalism and integrity.

It read, “The Commissioner of Police, Borno State Police Command, CP Naziru Abdulmajid, PSC, commended the Divisional Police Officer of Mallam Fatori Division and his team for their exemplary professionalism and integrity in recovering valuable property belonging to a female resident of the community.

“The woman, who fled Mallam Fatori during a Boko Haram attack 15 years ago, recently returned and sought police assistance to retrieve items she had buried in the sand while escaping the incident,” he noted.

Daso said that through diligent and coordinated efforts, the officers successfully recovered “22 cc of gold valued at approximately ₦20 million, as well as a gold bracelet with chain worth ₦3.6 million.”

He further stated that the Commissioner praised the officers for their honesty, dedication, and service, noting that their actions reflect the core values of the Nigeria Police Force and further strengthen public confidence in law enforcement.

“CP Naziru Abdulmajid reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property, urging residents to continue supporting and cooperating with the police for enhanced security across the state,” Daso added.

Metro

Osun Monarch’s Burial Rites Turn Bloody

Published

2 hours ago

December 1, 2025

Editor

Controversies over the burial rites for the 30th Owa of Igbajo, Oba Adegboyega Famodun, turned bloody on Monday as people opposed to observance of passage rites for him clashed with those that wanted honour befitting a royal father for the deceased.

In the fracas that occurred inside Iloro Market in Igbajo, on Monday, one man identified simply as Ifa was injured, while two other people reportedly sustained bruises.

The state Governor, Ademola Adeleke, had on Monday imposed a 24-hour curfew on Igbajo, amid protest, over Famodun’s death.

According to The PUNCH, a statement signed by Prince Adekunle Famodun on behalf of the family said Famodun “passed away on Friday, November 28, 2025, after a brief illness,” at the age of 67.

“As you may recall, Oba Adegboyega Famodun was installed and presented with the staff of office on November 24, 2022, by the former Governor of Osun State, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola.

“Although his position was disputed by a white paper issued by Governor Ademola Adeleke, the Osun State High Court reinstated him on January 30, 2025,” the statement read partly.

Before his appointment and installation as monarch, Oba Famodun had served as the Osun State chairman of the All Progressives Congress.

The PUNCH also reported on March 12, 2024, that Osun State Government approved the appointment of Prince Ademola Makinde as the new Owa of Igbajo, replacing Famodun.

But violent clashes erupted in the town when those believed to be loyal to late Famodun demanded that Iloro Market be shut in his honour.

But those opposed to the move, reportedly resisted the attempt to force some traders that opened for business to close shop.

In some of the video footages of the protest shared by a Facebook user, Taiwo Olaore, on Monday, unrest was observed in a market place, with some people demanding that the traders that opened for business, should shut down, as a mark of respect for the deceased.

Also, in the video, some women in white attire, bearing leave, rebuked the traders that opened for business and asked them to immediately close, and mourn the late Famodun.

Speaking further on the crises, a resident of Igbajo, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment on the matter, said “they wanted to do burial rite for Oba Famodun but another set of people insisted that the late monarch was a prince and not a king.

“In order to perform the rite, the Iloro market must be shut for three market days.

It was in the process of closing the market that the group opposed to the move mobilised to the market and insisted that they must close it.

“Three people were injured during the clash that occurred at the market. One of them is known as Ifa. His pictures with blood stained clothes circulated on the social media. The market was later shut,” he said.

Asked if the burial rites were being observed despite the curfew imposed by the State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, he said “The burial rites are ongoing. Although people didn’t come out after the governor declared a curfew but those performing the rites carried on with their duties alongside supporters of the late monarch.”

He also said there was massive deployment of security personnel to the town to prevent breakdown of law and order.

Contacted for update on the security situation in Igbajo, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, said one person was injured in the fracas that occurred in the town early on Monday, noting that normalcy has returned to the community.

“Our personnel are on the ground, but as of this morning when I communicated, no arrest has been made. Igbajo community is now peaceful. One person got injured during the clash,” Ojelabi said.

Metro

Kwara Traditional Ruler Kidnapped On His Farm

Published

1 day ago

November 30, 2025

Editor

Gunmen have reportedly abducted a traditional ruler in Bayagan community in the Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Ojibara of Bayagan Oba Kamilu Salami, on Saturday.

It was gathered that the traditional ruler was kidnapped Saturday morning on his farm, while details of the incident were still sketchy.

Eyewitness disclosed that the attack happened suddenly and left the community in apprehension and confusion. Meanwhile, the incident had triggered fresh concerns over cases of insecurity across the country.

The Kwara State Police command was yet to confirm the incident as at when filing this report.