Operatives of the Ondo Command of the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, have arrested a family of seven that specialises in breaking into shops and houses to loot food items.

Amotekun commander Adetunji Adeleye said at the corps’ headquarters in Akure, Ondo capital, that the suspects, John Avor,42, and his wife, Mary Avor,38, were apprehended for allegedly stealing bags of rice from an orphanage home in Shagari village.

Mr Adeleye said Mr Avor was arrested with his wife and children following intel that the family was involved in stealing rice from the orphanage.

“We have a family that specialises in breaking into houses comprising of the husband, the wife, and the children; family of robbers,” said Mr Adeleye, who noted that three of the children were minors between 12 and 15 years old.

“We are parading the father, mother, and two boys among the five children because three of them are minors. They stole the bags of rice from an orphanage at Shagari village in Akure,” he said. 

He noted that another building belonging to a pensioner in the same area filled with bags of rice was also allegedly emptied overnight by the family.

During interrogation with reporters, Mr Avor, who claimed he was a gateman, blamed his action on the devil.

He alleged that some children at the orphanage helped him steal the bag of rice with the condition that he would sell it and use the proceeds to buy items for them.

Meanwhile, operatives foiled five kidnap attempts and rescued nine kidnap victims across the state within one week.

The commander disclosed that the Amotekun Rangers, a unit of the formation that specialises in keeping surveillance of the forest reserves in the state, combed the Elegbeka forest, which is notorious for kidnapping, and arrested five suspects.

He said the Amotekun Rangers arrested one kidnap suspect while other members of the gang are at large after collecting a ransom of N2 million.

Mr Adeleye said the suspect, 28-year-old Usman Abubakar, was arrested in Igbo Oba, Owo, and confessed to collecting N2 million ransom.

“The Amotekun Rangers launched by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa recently had penetrated the forest, and substantially within the week under review, we were able to resist five kidnapping attempts. We were able to rescue nine victims. That is to say that the kidnap attempt failed.

“The notorious portion of Elegbeka had been bombarded, and we are glad to say that the Amotekun rangers had infiltrated the entire forest around Elegbeka to guarantee the safety of commuters’ lives and the property of the people of the area.

“In the next few weeks, we are going to dominate Ala, Ago-Oyibo, Ogbese, Jugbere and other forests,” said the commander.

Mr Adeleye assured the state’s residents and investors of a safe environment while cautioning against buying second-hand items without asking for genuine receipts.