The Ondo State Security Network Agency, known as the Amotekun Corps, announced the arrest of 27 individuals involved in various crimes, including kidnapping, theft, murder, and burglary, across the state.
During a parade of the suspects at the Amotekun headquarters in Akure on Tuesday, the state’s Amotekun Commander, Adetunji Adeleye, stated, “Today, we have a total of 27 suspects on parade. In the last two weeks across the state, we have 27 suspects involved in law-breaking activities.”
He noted that while there were a few isolated kidnapping incidents near state borders, “the entire 18 local governments is at peace.”
Adeleye assured that the state remains “peaceful and community-friendly, investment-friendly,” with Amotekun rangers stationed in farmlands and government forest reserves to prevent any disturbances.
He cited specific cases, including a 30-year-old involved in cultism and attempted murder of law enforcement agents, and a 42-year-old, Gbenro, who attacked Amotekun officers.
He also reported that Samuel Peter, 21, was charged with attempted murder, and Akimade Friday allegedly murdered a 65-year-old man.
Adeleye highlighted other cases, such as Segun Owolabi, 20, who reportedly specialized in motorcycle theft, and a gang of young men aged between 22 and 25, involved in house burglaries. He named individuals, including Toba, Pelumi, Ogumade, and Oriade, connected to these thefts.
Declaring the state as generally peaceful, Adeleye noted that the corps had successfully resolved several minor issues within the communities, including five cases of clashes between herders and farmers.
He explained, “The herders volunteered to pay for the cost of what they destroyed and equally paid the fine of government for the infringement.”
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Is Anthony Odiong still a priest after life in prison sentence over rape?")