By Precious Oluwole

Determined to ensure that people of the state sleep with their two eyes closed and free from criminals’ threats, the Ondo state Governor, Hon Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has launched ‘Operation Safe grounds’.

The initiative would further checkmate the resurgence of criminal activities in some parts of the state and more than before, fight crimes both at weekends and during holidays.

Speaking at the elaborate event held at the Headquarters of the State Amotekun Corps in Akure, the State Commander of the Corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye made the disclosure while parading 48 suspected criminals who engaged in kidnapping, stealing and violation of the anti-grazing law.

Akogun Adeleye specifically lauded the efforts and supports of the Governor for the Corps which has continued to spur them in nipping crimes in the bud across the 18 local government areas of the State.

Describing the launch of the ‘Operation Safegrounds’ as a brilliant initiative of the Governor towards sanitizing the state of criminal elements, he warned evil doers to vacate or be ready to contend with the strength of the Corps.

He added, that the initiative will guarantee more peace as well as safety and enable residents carry out their business activities without fear or molestation by criminal elements.

He revealed, that the 48 suspects being paraded were arrested for various criminal activities ranging from kidnapping, theft, burglary, impersonation, violation of anti-grazing law, vandalism, among others.

Akogun Adeleye also revealed, that “As the Ileya festival fast approaches, the corps would as from tomorrow, deploy 1,000 men across the state, especially at the borders, prayer grounds, market places and churches to guarantee the safety of life and property during the coming holidays.

“We are committed to protecting the citizens during this forthcoming Eid-el-Kabir festival and arrangements have been concluded to deploy 1,000 men to every nooks and crannies of the state to achieve that and ensure peace reigns before, during and after the festival.

According to him; “There have been complaints about the activities of miscreants and criminals parading major towns in the state carting away valuables of people during the weekends, thereby disturbing the peace of residents.

“The inauguration of the initiative, according to him, would lead to the creation of more control points on virtually every street in major towns of the state to curb criminal activities of hoodlums.

“We observed that miscreants and criminals are taking over the major cities and we also noticed, that on Sundays and when people go to work, these miscreants burgle resident’s houses and cart away with their valuables.

“The complaints became unbearable in the last few weeks and this ugly trend compelled Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to direct that ‘Operation Safeground’ be launched today.

“To the residents of the state capital and the major towns in the state, you will start observing like before, control points and security points in virtually every street in the state to curb the notorious activities of these vandals that robs people of their valuables.

According to him “In Isua, we found out that so many transformers have been stolen, so many cables servicing the transformers have been vandalised and taken away.

“By the grace of God and the support of the residents, Amotekun personnel have been able to break that terrible cartel, we were able to arrest about three different groups and these groups sell the looted products to a particular person who is at large, but assured that the long hand of the law will soon catch up with him.

Speaking further, he said; “We also have those that specialise in uprooting cables from buildings under construction and uncompleted buildings, we found out that these cables are burn and the copper removed and sold to this godfather of criminals called Abubakar Muhammed that is at large.”

The Amotekun Commander, however, assured the public that the corps would continue to ensure the protection of lives and properties of the good citizens at all times.