Operatives of the Amotekun Corps have begun a 24-hour patrol of the major highways in Ondo to forestall criminal activities, Corps Commander Adetunji Adeleye disclosed on Wednesday.

Mr Adeleye, who spoke while parading 45 suspects arrested for various crimes in the state, said that the major highways throughout the state are now safer for motorists to ply.

“As we speak now, we have put measures in place in order to ensure that our roads are safe from criminals, our patrol vehicles are moving round for 24 hours,” the Amotekun Commandant told journalists on Wednesday in Akure. 

Roads in Ondo became nightmare recently as bandits ramped up their nefarious activities, killing and kidnapping travellers for ransom.

The Akoko-Ose axis of the state, bordering Kogi and Edo states, have been particularly notorious as the haven for the criminals who waylay commuters at will.

A fortnight ago, some funeral guests who were returning from an event in Ewatto area of Edo were seized on the Ose axis of the state, a couple were killed while a N3 million ransom was collected on each victim.

Mr Adeleye, who is also the Special Adviser to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, on security matters, noted that the trend of crimes especially in the state capital, Akure, has now been reduced courtesy of the efforts of the Amotekun Corps.

“If you look at Akure metropolis, all major junctions are manned by the security operatives and we are trying more to patrol within the all 18 local government areas of the state and we want to reassure the good people of Ondo state to go about their normal duties,” Mr Adeleye added. 

The commander said many of the paraded suspects were apprehended for alleged kidnapping, raping, burglary, and robbery cases. 

He said the effort of the local security outfit had been yielding results following the 24 of surveillance embarked upon by the operatives in collaboration with other security agencies. 

“I must let you know that virtually all these operations were done in collaboration with other sister security agencies in the state,” Mr Adeleye said. 

He, however, added that the ban on the activities of commercial motorcyclists otherwise known as “Okada” at night in the state, which has been the major cause of insecurity, remained enforced.