Amotekun rescues five, one dead in Ondo
The Ondo Amotekun Corps has rescued five kidnapped victims, while a female victim died in captivity, during operations across Okeigbo, Owo and Ala-Dada.
The Ondo State Security Network Agency, Amotekun Corps, says it has rescued five kidnapped victims while a female victim died in captivity in the state. Mr Adetunji Adeleye, Commander, Amotekun Corps, disclosed this on Monday in Akure while parading 14 suspects for various offences.
Adeleye said the success was recorded after Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa gave the order to rescue the victims unhurt. He explained that two of the victims were rescued in Okeigbo. “A couple of days ago, we had this isolated case of kidnapping in Okeigbo and nine of the Special Squad of Amotekun moved immediately. We were able to rescue a life without a problem, the man. But unfortunately, by the time we got there, the lady was exhausted and we couldn’t revive her because we met her dead or unconscious,” he said.
He added that two weeks ago in Owo Local Government Area, the corps secured the release of two boys without payment of ransom, and last night, they rescued two men in the Ala-Dada axis. The Amotekun commander said the border patrol teams of the corps were still effective and the rangers were domiciled in the forest and metropolitan areas.
The rescue of five victims is a commendable achievement, but the death of one victim is a reminder of the brutality of kidnapping. Amotekun’s non-kinetic approach to identifying kidnappers deep in the forest is a welcome innovation. The fact that ransoms were not paid is also significant, as it removes the financial incentive for kidnappers.
This echoes the 2022 Amotekun operations in Ondo, which also involved rescues and casualties. The mechanism then was different, but the result was the same: a state security network struggling to contain kidnapping.
The winners: the five rescued victims, who have regained their freedom; and the Amotekun Corps, which has demonstrated its effectiveness. The losers: the family of the female victim who died; and the Nigerian state, which has failed to prevent kidnapping.
Bottom Line: Amotekun has rescued five victims in Ondo. One died in captivity. The fight against kidnapping continues. The question is whether the government can prevent future abductions.