The Ondo State Security Network Agency, Amotekun Corps, has arrested four suspects accused of allegedly staging a a fake kidnap and using social media to create a false impression that one of them had been abducted.
The state Amotekun Commander, Adetunji Adeleye, disclosed this on Monday in Akure, while parading the suspects alongside 49 others arrested for various offences.
Adeleye said the alleged self-kidnapping operation came to light after one of the suspects reported to the Amotekun command that his siblings had been abducted.
He said security operatives commenced an investigation following the report and subsequently discovered that the complainant was allegedly part of the scheme.
According to the commander, further investigation led operatives to a house where they found the person who had allegedly been reported kidnapped.
Adeleye said the suspects had also allegedly used social media to raise a false alarm and create panic over the purported abduction.
He explained that the discovery followed detailed scrutiny of the circumstances surrounding the reported kidnapping.
The commander also disclosed that seven other suspects allegedly linked to kidnapping activities had been arrested in the Akoko axis through intelligence provided by Fulani farmers and herders.
According to him, operatives recovered a military uniform from one of the suspects during the operation and rescued two kidnapped victims who had suffered machete injuries.
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Adeleye said the victims sustained injuries to their heads and other parts of their bodies after their abductors allegedly attacked them in an attempt to kill them.
He said the victims were rescued alive, treated and were in stable condition while receiving further medical attention at the corps’ facility.
The commander credited the success of the operation to cooperation from community leaders and members of the local community, including Fulani farmers and herders who provided useful intelligence.
Adeleye commended those who supplied information to security operatives and urged residents to continue supporting efforts to combat kidnapping and other criminal activities across Ondo State.
