Operatives of Oyo state Amotekun Corps in collaborating with Oodua People Congress (OPC) and Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) Thursday arrested five more suspected bandits in Saki east area of Oyo state.
With the arrest of the five more bandits, the number of suspected bandits arrested by Amotekun and other groups is now 11 (with the 6 arrested at Kajola local government of Oyo state).
The suspected bandits, according to Amotekun Commandant in Oyo state, Col. Olayinka Olayanju (rtd), were arrested along Okeho-Ilua and Okeho – Iseyin road at about 4am during a joint routine patrol in the early hours of the day on two separate routes within the local government area.
Col. Olayanju (rtd) said the suspected bandits were arrested in separate incidents following encounters at two illegally mounted road blocks after hot pursuit as the bandits were trying to escape from the scene to evade arrest.
“The bandits, whose modus operandi is to pretend as herdsmen in the day and violently robbed innocent passengers on the highways at night were caught with 183 cows, weapons and a total sum of N268, 470.00,” he said
Colonel Olayanju (rtd) in a statement gave names of the arrested suspected bandits as Awali Atine, Ibrahim Abu, Shuaib Balau, Ibrahim Musa, Abdullah Masika and Umar Aliu Masika (all of Bororo Fulani ethnic group).
The Amotekun Commandant stated that Amotekun operatives are still on the trail of other suspected bandits that escaped from the scene during the arrest, saying, “We are still on the trail of others who managed to escape from the scene.”
He stated that the arrested bandits have been handed over to the Nigeria Police Authority Okeho Divisional HQ alongside the 183 herds, weapons and money found in their possession for further investigation.
Also, Col. Olayanju (rtd) said the other 5 bandits were handed over the DPO in the area on 29 April, 21.
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