The suspects were arraigned over alleged armed robbery, kidnapping, r3pe, conspiracy, and illegal possession of firearms.
Seven suspects have been charged before a Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Akure for alleged armed robbery, kidnapping, r3pe, conspiracy and illegal possession of firearms.
They were arrested by the Ondo State Security Network Agency, otherwise known as the Amotekun Corps.
The suspects are; Saliu Usman, Yao Yisa, Abu Ali, Ibrahim Muhammed, Musa Abdukareem,Usman Lawali and Muhammed Ibrahim.
They were accused of having committed the offences at different times, between July 9 and 13, 2025, at different locations in the Akoko South West Local Government area of the state.
The prosecuting counsel, O.F. Akeredolu, told the court that the first five defendants; Usman, Yisa, Ali, Muhammed and Abdukareem and other accomplices still at large on July 13, 2025, at about 12:03am, at Oba Akoko farm, Ayegunle Axis while armed with offensive weapons, raped two women (names withheld) and dispossessed them of their belongings and money.
The defendants were alleged of stolen a sum of N225,000.00, two cell phones, an MP3, and ten litres of palm oil belonging to the victims.
Akeredolu also stated that the defendants were involved in the kidnapping of individuals from the area for ransom.
In a separate charge, Akeredolu accused two of the suspects of attempting to kidnap Abu Kehinde and Ologun Tunde on July 9, 2025, at 5 PM in Ayegunle Oka, Okemoro, Supare Akoko, after robbing them of their money.
He noted that their offences contravened Section 516 of the Criminal Code Law of Ondo State, 2006; Section 3(ii)(b) of the Ondo State Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Abduction Law, 2010 and Section 3(2)(c) of the Ondo State Violence Against Persons(Prohibition) Laws of Ondo State, 2021.
Due to the serious nature of the offenses, the court did not take the defendants’ pleas.
Akeredolu requested that the court remand the defendants in a correctional facility pending advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Counsel to the defendants, G.O. Omoedu, prayed the court for an adjournment to enable the defence to reply to the application on points of law.
Magistrate Damilola Sekoni, adjourned the case to August 18, for ruling on the bail application.