By Dayo Johnson, Akure

The Ondo state security outfit codenamed Amotekun, has arrested and paraded over 300 suspected criminals in the last three months.

Its commander, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, said in Akure, the state capital, that the suspects were arrested across 15 locations in the 18 council areas of the state.

Adeleye said the development followed the increased influx of bandits into the South-West region, which has kept Ondo State authorities on high alert to ensure the safety of lives and property.

According to him most of the suspected criminals arrested in the border communities of the state were linked to criminal activities such as kidnapping, armed robbery, housebreaking, and several other minor offences.

“We rely heavily on grassroots intelligence. In the last three months, we arrested and paraded over 300 suspects across approximately 15 locations in the 18 local government areas of the state.

“Most of them were apprehended in connection with crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, housebreaking, and other minor offences.

“Some of these suspects have been prosecuted in court, while others had their cases resolved. Many of them remain in correctional centres across the state.

“We also have what we call Amotekun ambassadors, who operate discreetly within communities as part of our intelligence unit.

“These ambassadors move across towns and villages, gathering grassroots information to help identify bad actors who collaborate with criminals.

“This system has been yielding remarkable results for us. All the criminals we have apprehended so far were as a result of the grassroots intelligence reports we received from villages and towns within the state.

Adeleye said that the security outfit was determined to stop the influx and drive away those that have sneaked into the state

” We have put in place some strategy that will make the state too hot for them to stay.

The commander assured the people of the state that there was no course for alarm as they were on high alert.

Adeleye, however, lauded the state governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, for providing Amotekun with an enabling environment to operate