Posted by Chinenye on Tue 08th Sep, 2026 - tori.ng
Ondo Amotekun has made a major breakthrough after arresting dozens of suspects linked to different crimes across the state.
(Amotekun corps. Photo Credit: Punch News)
Ondo State's Amotekun security force has arrested 53 suspects, including 21 undocumented foreigners found living in two apartments in Owo.
The 53 were paraded at headquarters on Monday.
They're accused of kidnapping, murder, attempted murder, burglary, theft and cultism.
The 21 foreigners claimed they came from neighbouring West African countries to do menial work and repair phones, but had no papers to authorise their stay in Nigeria.
The commander said an influx of undocumented foreigners has been moving through the state's forests and cities over recent months.
Many pretend to be phone sellers or repairers while living in hotels, he noted.
The 21 found in Owo were being helped by local residents, but had no ECOWAS travel papers.
The apartment landlords are under scrutiny for taking rent without checking who their tenants were or what they were doing.
The commander warned that abandoned foreign migrants can become targets for criminal recruitment when their sponsors leave them.
Separately, the force uncovered a self-kidnapping scam involving four suspects who used social media to stage fake kidnappings and demand money.
One man reported his siblings had been kidnapped but turned out to be part of the scheme.
Investigators traced the supposed victim to his home where he was found alive.
The force also rescued two kidnapped boys working with the Fulani community.
One boy was badly wounded from machete attacks but was rescued alive and is now recovering.
A military uniform was recovered from one of the kidnappers.
The commander praised the Fulani community for helping identify and arrest suspects, and thanked Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for supporting the force's crime-fighting efforts.