BY
FOLASHADE KEHINDE
THE Ondo State Security outfit, Amotekun, has commenced a stop-and-search, identification exercise across the state.
The security network said this was necessary because it had uncovered a sinister plot by bandits to attack the state.
Commander of Amotekun in the state, Adetunji Adeleye, who disclosed this to newsmen, said over 50 unregistered and tinted vehicles without police permits had been impounded during the stop and search identification exercise.
Adeleye said, “The stop-and-search and vehicle identification exercise embarked upon by operatives of the corps across major roads in the state was backed by law. The operation was being done in collaboration with other security agencies.
“We received intelligence report from credible quarters that bandits and criminals are trying to carry out nefarious activities in the state. We hinted 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 the other in Ekiti State.”
He added, “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’ , on alert and 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.”
The Amotekun Commander said, virtually, more than 90 per cent of criminal activities in the state were been perpetrated with the use of unregistered, covered and tinted vehicles.
According to him, majority of these criminal activities are also being carried out using Okada, especially in the evenings.
He stated, “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. I don’t see any reason you will buy a car and you choose to not register it for one to three years if you don’t have ulterior motive.”
“Again, the law is clear on the use of tinted glasses. Approach the relevant security agency and obtain a permit. We found out that some of the criticisms coming up from an uninformed point of view, accuse the corps of going beyond its mandate. I want to refer them to the Ondo State Security Agency and the Amotekun Corps law of 2020; Section 5; 5a; 5i; 5j which gives specific core mandate to the exercise being carried out by the agency,” Adeleye noted.
