The Ondo State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun, has rescued a kidnapped victim and arrested four suspects, including a father and his three sons, over their alleged involvement in the abduction.
The suspects were apprehended in Oba-Ile, Akoko, within Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Speaking while parading the suspects alongside others arrested for various offences in Akure on Tuesday, the Commander of the Amotekun Corps, Adetunji Adeleye, identified the suspects as 56-year-old Iliasu and his sons, Usman, 33, Wahab, 27, and Yakubu, 18.
According to Adeleye, security operatives also recovered items believed to have been used during the operation, including drugs, alcoholic drinks, cigarettes and what appeared to be a camouflage used to blindfold the victim.
“We arrested the four suspects following a report from the victim’s family. During the operation, we recovered drugs, drinks, cigarettes and materials believed to have been used to cover the victim’s eyes,” he said.
Adeleye explained that the victim was abducted while travelling to Oba Akoko. He disclosed that the victim’s family initially negotiated and paid a ransom without notifying Amotekun, but the kidnappers failed to honour the agreement.
“Despite collecting the ransom, the kidnappers refused to release the victim and warned the family against reporting the incident. The family later came to us, and we immediately launched an operation,” he stated.
He revealed that the rescue mission uncovered the involvement of members of the same family.
“At the end of the operation, we discovered that a father and his three sons were directly involved in the kidnapping, using cattle as a cover for their activities. They attacked our personnel during the operation, but we successfully rescued the victim,” Adeleye said.
The corps commander added that the victim sustained injuries after being tortured with knives and cutlasses and was taken to a hospital for treatment.
He further disclosed that Amotekun operatives recovered more than 75 per cent of the ransom paid by the victim’s family.
“We do not encourage the payment of ransom. Since the recovered money belongs to the victim’s family, we returned it to them. It was only brought here for public display before being handed back,” Adeleye added.
The commander also said the suspects would be prosecuted after the conclusion of investigations.
