The Ondo State Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun Corps, has disclosed that no fewer than 20 commercial motorcyclists had been robbed and killed in the last three weeks across the state.
The state Commander of the corps, Adetunji Adeleye, disclosed this in Akure on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, when he paraded 11 suspects arrested for various crimes.
Adeleye, who is also the Special Adviser to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu on Security Matters, stressed that the state government’s ban on commercial motorcycles from 6pm to 6am subsists but would not affect motorcycles on essential duties.
“A total of 20 cases of commercial motorcyclists killed and their motorcycles stolen was recorded in the last three weeks, so it was risky to ride motorcycles at night,” he said.
“We want to appeal to commercial motorcyclists to go and rest if they work for 12 hours so that we can identify the criminal entities. It is also no longer permitted for vehicles to ply the road without registration numbers, and all vehicles with tinted glass should obtain police permits for them
“Dealers should use dealer numbers and not stickers because all vehicles with stickers will be impounded. These are some measures we put in place to guarantee safety of lives and properties in Ondo State
According to Adeleye, six of the suspects, who were paraded, were arrested with locally-made weapons as they were allegedly preparing to “destabilise innocent residents and commuters in Ondo State.”
The commandant also disclosed that it had begun 24-hour patrol to ensure adequate protection of lives and property before, during, and after the Christmas season.
He said his men would be deployed in all blackspots that had been observed across the state, especially Akure.
“Our patrol vehicles will be on a 24-hour basis throughout this period. In collaboration with other security agencies, we are determined to reduce to the barest minimum all acts of criminal activities ranging from kidnapping shop or housebreaking.
“You will recall that last year, we were able to rescue over 100 kidnapped or robbed people, but for this year’s patrol, we are ready to do more and we thank the people and ask for more support this year,” he pledged.
