A 21-year-old ex-convict has been arrested by operatives of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, otherwise known as Amotekun Corps, over his alleged involvement in drug peddling and armed robbery.

The ex-convict, Simon Matthew, who had just completed his one-year prison term on January 1, was arrested on January 4 by the corps.

According to the Commander of the Corps, Adetunji Adeleye, while parading the suspect along with others, Matthew was convicted for the same offence he was arrested for in Akure, the state capital.

He said: “The ex-convict, Simon Matthew, a middle-aged man, claimed to be a drug dealer; he had been convicted for drug and robbery activities, and that was exactly what he did again. We were able to disband four robbery gangs that are here, even though we have about four of them that are still at large, but the principal suspects are here with us.”

While also revealing that four people who violated the anti-open grazing law of the state were arrested, Adeleye emphasised that Amotekun Corps is fully operational in the 18 local councils of the state, contrary to a report that the corps had been overwhelmed in the state.

“The fake news that went viral that Amotekun was overwhelmed was grossly false in its entirety because in the four local government areas of Akoko, we have been on 24-hour, 7-day patrol in the last 60 days, and there have been no major cases of security breaches that we have not raised to arrest.

“As we talk now, the state is one of those that is the safest. You will recall that early November will reassure members of the public that they are going to enjoy the Christmas and New Year holidays without fear of being molested. We placed it on record that there would not be bank robberies in Ondo State.

“So I want to say that it was cheap blackmail orchestrated by enemies of the progress of the state, and it is aimed at discrediting the corps, but we refused to be distracted.

“We will continue to serve our people and provide the quality security services that we are reputed for, and it was all we knew that the 18 local government areas in Ondo State were safe from all these criminal activities. We refused to be distracted by the mischief makers who are determined to rubbish the integrity of the Amotekun,” he emphasised. (The Guardian)

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