Amotekun arrests suspected killer of Ondo APC chair

Men of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun Corps, have arrested a prime suspect linked to the killing of Nelson Adepoyigi, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ward 5, in Ose Local Government Area.

Commander of the Amotekun Corps, Adetunji Adeleye, disclosed this on Monday while parading over 30 suspects involved in various criminal activities across the state.

“We have apprehended one of the prime suspects who masterminded the killing of the APC ward chairman in Ose LGA,” Adeleye said during a press briefing in Akure. “He led us into the bush where we recovered some incriminating items from him.”

He said, “Today, we are parading 32 suspects. These 32 suspects were arrested across the 18 Local Government Areas of Ondo State for an infringement of the existing laws.

Giving a breakdown of the number of the suspects, the Amotekun Commander said, “For those breaking laws and order, we arrested 20 suspects, on pending enforcement, no suspect was arrested in the last two weeks. Land and chieftaincy matter, no suspect was arrested. On the labour union, no suspect was arrested.

“On anti-grazing, only one suspect and he will be facing the law as stated in the anti-open grazing law. On human trafficking, none. On kidnapping, we have 10 suspects and a majority of them, we have the victims, identifying them. On robbery, we have two. These two are here today with the victims and this one happened on the Benin Expressway. They had been arrested and investigation continues on them. On rape, we have only one suspect,” he stated.

Adetunji gave the identities of the kidnap suspects as “35-year-old Ali; 30-year-old Habeeb; 45-year-old Bobade; 25-year-old Shedrak’ 25-year-old Adamu; 20-year-old Adelewa; 40-year-old Suleiman; 20-year-old Mohamed; 18-year-old Suleiman Isiaka and 18-year-old Husseini. All are being investigated as suspected kidnappers.

“They were arrested in Ute-Owo Forest, Jugbere Forest, and Ipele in Owo. On armed robbery, we have three, including one Michael, 23-year-old, who was arrested around the Roscoe area in Odigbo. There is also a Lawal, 37, arrested for forgery, false information, aiding and abetting robbery around the Powerline area.”

Southwestechoes recalls that Adepoyigi was abducted last month along the Ifon-Owo Road while returning from his farm and was later killed by his captors. His death sparked outrage within the local community and among political stakeholders.

The arrest, according to Adeleye, marks a significant breakthrough in the ongoing investigation and efforts to curb violent crimes in the state.