Amotekun apprehends 22 illegal immigrants in Ondo
Operatives of the Ondo State Security Network, codenamed Amotekun Corps, have arrested 22 illegal immigrants in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.
Alongside them, six individuals alleged to have facilitated their entry into Nigeria without any clear purpose were also apprehended.
The immigrants were reportedly brought in from the Republic of Benin and Togo.
Speaking to journalists at the Corps headquarters in Alagbaka, Akure, on Wednesday, November 5, the Corps Commander, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, said preliminary interrogation revealed that the foreigners had no knowledge of why they were brought into the country.
Adeleye stated, “We have an unusual group of visitors among us Mustafa, Steve, Alfosus, Tango Juntu, and Simon who were involved in bringing illegal immigrants into the country for suspicious reasons.
“We also have 22 illegal immigrants who, during questioning, could not explain how they entered Nigeria from Benin Republic and Togo or what their mission was.”
“We are right now going to hand them over to the Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS) for further scrutiny.
“I believe once they find out that their stay is not healthy, they will be sent out of the country.”
Also paraded were five persons arrested for allegedly vandalizing and selling government earthmoving equipment.
They are Mwazu, Sani, Mosund, James, and Sehidu.
Narrating how the syndicate was busted, the Cops Commander said: “As of today, we were able to arrest a syndicate that had consistently been vandalizing state government machineries.
“You can see some of the caterpillar parts, caterpillar engines, tires, and so on.
“Overnight, when our operatives caught up with them as a result of our diligent intelligence, they opened fire on our men, but we remained resolute.
“Rather than responding, we were able to apprehend them. We have them on parade today
“You can see on parade that we have trucks, Maruwa(tricycle) and all the equipment, including the gas flaring equipment they used in cutting parts of the government equipment.
“They have consistently been doing that. Even the buyers of the equipment have been arrested and we have two at large.
“I am sure that before long, the long arm of the law will catch up with them.
“The Maruwa(tricycle) and the Taxi cab were part of what was recovered from the scene of the cr!me. They used both the Maruwa and the Taxi cab to convey stolen goods from the forest where government equipment was vandalized.
“So, we found out upon credible intelligence, we trailed them to where they sold the first batch, and we also trailed them back until when they commenced the second batch before we caught them in the act.
“They actually fired operatives of Amotekun from the Taxi cab.”
He said the suspects would be arraigned for pr0secution.
Assuring the people of the state, Akogun Adeleye said the state remained safe for everyone carrying out their legitimate businesses.
He said with the synergy among security agencies in the state, “Ondo State remains safe, but unsafe for cr!minals. It is not a place for cr!minals to thrive. Head or tail, Amotekun will catch you. So, the best thing is not to be involved in cr!minal activities.”