Personnel of the Oyo State Security Network Agency otherwise known as Amotekun Corps, in collaboration with men of the Oodua Peoples Congress and Vigilante Group of Nigeria, have arrested six suspected criminals in Kajola Local Government of Oyo State.
The hoodlums were said to have been arrested during a joint routine patrol along Okeho-Ilua and Okeho-Iseyin Road, around 4am on Thursday.
Also, five bandits were reportedly apprehended in Saki East Local Government Area in the early hours of Thursday.
The Commandant of Amotekun Corps, Col. Olayinka Olayanju (retd.), who made the disclosure on Thursday morning, said the suspects were arrested following encounters with the security agencies at two illegally-mounted road blocks.
The names of the suspects were given as Auwalu Atine, Ibrahim Abu, Shuaib Balau, Ibrahim Musa, Abdullah Masika and Umar Aliu Masika.
Olayanju said that preliminary interrogation revealed that the bandits are of Bororo Fulani extract.
The Commandant stated that the operatives pursued and arrested the bandits while trying to evade arrest, adding that the operatives were still on the trail of others who managed to escape from the scene.
Shedding light on the suspects’ mode of operation, the Commandant said the hoodlums pretended to be herdsmen at day time but become violent at night, robbing innocent passengers on the roads.
He disclosed that they were caught with 183 cows, weapons and a total sum of N268, 470.
According to Olayanju, the suspects had been handed over to the police at Okeho Division, alongside the 183 cows, weapons and money found in their possession for further investigation.
He added that those nabbed in Saki East had been handed over the Divisional Police Officer in the area.
He urged members of the public to avail security operatives of necessary information that could lead to the arrests of bandits.
He said, “They were arrested in separate incidents following encounters at two illegally-mounted road blocks.
They tried to escape from the scene but they were given hot pursuit by the operatives as they tried to evade arrest. We are still on the trail of others who managed to escape from the scene.
“The bandits, whose modus operandi is to pretend as herdsmen in the day and violently robbed innocent passengers on the highways at night, were caught with 183 cows, weapons and a total sum of N268, 470.00.
“They have been handed over to the Nigeria Police Authority Okeho Divisional Headquarters, alongside the 183 herds, weapons and money found in their possession for further investigation.
“Those with necessary information that could help law enforcement agencies in their investigation are please enjoined to cooperate n report to the nearest police authority for proper investigation.”
