The Ondo State Security Network Agency, otherwise known as Amotekun Corps, has expressed worry over frequent cases of convicted criminals returning to society to commit the same offences.

Adetunji Adeleye, commander of the corps, showed his dismay on Monday while parading one Matthew Philip, who was earlier jailed for robbery with 28 other suspects in the state.

Mr Adeleye said it was surprising when the long arm of the law again caught the 29-year-old ex-convict (Philip) at his hideout for the same offence which he was previously jailed.

“One issue of note is that in all of such instances, we always have a recycled criminal. In this case, there is a particular convict who left the correctional centre on January 1, and on January 4, 2024 (less than one week), he went into burglary crime again.

“The ex-convict claimed to be a drug dealer who also engaged in robbery activities,” he said.

Parading the other suspects at the Amotekun headquarters office in Akure, Mr Adeleye said they were arrested for various alleged offences ranging from kidnapping, armed robbery, unlawful possession of firearms, and theft, among others.

He noted that many of the suspects had been on the watch lists of the Corps for almost five months and were nabbed with locally made guns.

“In the last week, we were able to arrest 29 suspects that were involved in different forms of security breaches which range from kidnapping, armed robbery, housebreaking, shoplifting, stealing of motorcycles among others.”

“In the same way, those that were involved in illegal possession of firearms and have been on our watchlist in the last five months were arrested with guns, locally made pistols with which they perpetrate evil.

“Towards the yuletide season, we made it clear that there was not going to be any major bank robbery or robbery operation throughout,” he added.

While appreciating other sister security agencies, which included the Police, SSS, and Civil Defence, for their steadfastness during the festive period, the Amotekun Corps noted that arrested suspects were being profiled and would soon be charged in court.

According to him, there is no hiding place for criminals in the state as the people enter into the new year.

Mr Adeleye, however, debunked a rumour that armed bandits invaded some Ondo communities and overwhelmed operatives of the corps, saying it was a ruse targeted at causing chaos in the state.

“So, I want to say that it was a cheap blackmail orchestrated by enemies of progress of the state and it is aimed at discrediting the corps but we refused to be distracted.

“We will continue to serve our people and provide the quality security services that we are reputed for and it is what we all know that the 18 local government areas in Ondo state are safe from all these criminal activities.

“We refused to be distracted by the mischief makers who are determined to rubbish the integrity of the Amotekun,” he said.