The Ondo State Security Network Agency, better known as Amotekun Corps, announced on Thursday that it had impounded 50 unregistered vehicles as part of the continuing stop-and-search operation across the state.
The corps also stated that it had detained certain vehicles with tinted glasses without authority, claiming that criminals were utilizing such vehicles to commit crimes in the state.
The corps’ commander, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, stated that the stop-and-search operation was carried out to foil a scheme by some criminal elements and bandits to commit deadly attacks in the state.
According to him, the exercise was a collaborative effort between the Nigerian police, Nigerian Security, and the Civil Defence Corps. He stated that relevant legislation allows the agency to work with other security organizations to follow criminals on important highways.
Adeleye however denied the allegation that his men and other security agents, on the roads were checking phones or demanding vehicle particulars, describing such as a mere cheap social media blackmail which could not stop the security operatives from protecting the citizenry during this yuletide and beyond.
He said “We received an intelligence report from credible quarters that bandits and criminals are trying to carry out nefarious activities in the state. We hinted to the general public about two weeks ago to be very vigilant. This information became more credible when we heard that in some of the places mentioned in the intelligence report, armed robbers had actually struck. One in Osun and one in Ekiti State.
“The state government in its quest to ensure adequate security of lives and property in the state quickly called security council meeting where all security agencies were directed to be on ‘yellow’ and on alert to sensitise the public to be careful, watchful and to intimate any security agency in the state of any suspicious movement.
“As part of the core mandate of Amotekun which is mainly complementary to the services of all security agencies. Before this exercise, we recognize the need to intimate the general public which was done via various media houses.
“Virtually, more than 90 percent of criminal activities in the state are being perpetrated with the use of unregistered, covered, and tinted vehicles. Again, a majority of these criminal activities are also being carried out using Okada, especially in the evenings.
“To this end, the state government directed all security agencies in the state to collaborate and work together to ensure that after the deadline, whoever uses a dark tinted glass would carry a police permit. Furthermore, the use of unregistered vehicles on roads which makes it difficult to track down criminals was also banned. We have impounded about 50 vehicles that violated the directive had been impounded since the operation started earlier in the week.”
The commander reiterated that the corps would not relent in its efforts to ensure adequate security of the people of the state before, during, and after the Christmas season.