The Amotekun Corps said it foiled a robbery operation attempt on three new generation banks in Ode Irele in Irele LGA of Ondo state. 

Adetunji Adeleye, commander of the corps, who revealed this on Thursday in Akure, while parading 36 suspected criminals, said one of the suspects was neutralised. 

Mr Adeleye said the operatives of the corps were able to foil the robbery operation on the banks following intel from members of the public.

He revealed that a seven-man robbery gang came from Sapele in Delta to Odo Irele and planned the robbery operation on the banks before they were nabbed by the Amotekun.

According to him, the suspects had also planned to kidnap a businessman who owns a popular supermarket in the town. 

Noting that six of the suspects took to their heels after their operation cast, Mr Adeleye informed that one of them who was a masterminder was nabbed while trying to also escape. 

“The 7-man gang came from Sapele, Delta State for kidnapping and robbery of a bank in Irele LGA.

“Six of them are at large, but we were able to apprehend the mastermind who accommodated the robbers. 

“We were equally able to get to the root of the target that they intended to kidnap to give the officers of Amotekun the feeling that it is mere robbery, whereas it was a dual operation,” he said. 

Mr Adeleye said, “The manhunt for the leader who escaped to Delta State is on the watch. We are liaising with relevant govt and security authorities to assist us in apprehending this runaway gang. 

“The Intel available to us showed that they intend to rob three banks and kidnap the MD of a supermarket. Investigations showed that they liaised with a staff of the supermarket who declined to join the group.”

Speaking on 36 others who were arrested for various offences, Mr Adeleye, said “amongst them are those who specialised in vandalism of critical govt assets. 

“They went with a trailer to load pipes meant for a World Bank-financed water project and successfully offloaded it and our operatives followed them and apprehended them where they were offloading at a different location. 

“This is in furtherance of the determination that our citizens live peacefully in Ondo State. We appeal to the public to continue to support us with timely and actionable information.”

He, however, pledged the assurance of the security agent to secure the lives and properties of residents of the state in collaboration with other security agencies.