Men of the Ondo State Security Network, Amotekun, have arrested three members of a syndicate who specialised in operating as “one chance,” defrauding people of their hard-earned money.
The State Amotekun Commander, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, disclosed this while parading 48 suspected criminals apprehended for various offences in the last two weeks.
Adeleye said no fewer than 600 suspected criminals have been arrested and prosecuted in the state for various offences committed by the corps between January and June 2024.
While narrating how the suspected one-chance taxi operators were apprehended, the Amotekun Commander said, “There is this syndicate that specialises in what is called ‘One-Chance’ in local parlance.
He said unsuspecting commuters will board their vehicles, get midway, rob them, dispose of their valuables, and make away with them.
“So, we were able to put some of our men in one of the vehicles, and as we talk today, out of the ten vehicles they use, we were able to retrieve three, and the kingpin of the criminal activities has been arrested and is here on parade.
“They have an herbalist who deceives them by telling customers of theirs that they can produce dollars for them, but you can see that they are counterfeit dollars.
“So, they collected naira from them in exchange for counterfeit dollars. So, we were able to break their cartel, and you can see the pots and charms they use in hypnotising their customers.
“So, all they need to tell the victims is to go home and bring all their valuables for these counterfeit dollars.”
The leader of the counterfeit currency syndicate, Temidayo Olagundoye, 53, who confessed to crime, disclosed that no fewer than 16 people had fallen victim to the syndicate.
He stated that “I have been involved in one-chance operations and defrauding people for over three years. Our route is along the Ondo/Akure/Osogbo/Ife highway.
“After some unsuspecting passengers have boarded our vehicles, I will ask one of my gang members what is inside the bag with him, and he will respond that it is dollars with a charm on it.
“We do get the fake dollars from Lagos. About 16 people have fallen into our trick, with N260,000 being our highest catch. The charm we put on the fake dollar is not real; it was just to deceive our victims.
“I used to be an electrician, but I was duped in Abuja. After I was duped, I decided to also dupe people.”
Adetunji, however, stated that crime rates had drastically reduced, saying the development has led to about a 90 per cent reduction in kidnappings in the state.
He noted that the remaining 10 per cent of kidnapping cases occurring in the state have been limited to border communities in the state.
According to him, no fewer than 48 suspected armed robbers, vandals, one-chance taxi operators, dollar counterfeit syndicates, kidnappers, and burglars, among others, have been arrested within the state in the last two weeks.
Adeleye disclosed that the suspects were apprehended during the ongoing Operation ‘Safe Ground’ that was launched about four weeks ago.
He assured that the command would leave no stone unturned towards securing the lives and property of the residents of the state and ridding the state of criminals.
He said: “We have 48 suspects today, and all of these suspects have been profiled and will be taken to the next level, which is the appropriate court of law to try their cases, and those that are found wanting will be sent to the correctional home.
“The signals we are sending to criminals are that Ondo State isn’t a place where they can stay. We want them to know that even as a kidnapper, once you kidnap, you can’t get away with it.
“If you steal cars, you can’t get away with it. If you break houses, we’ll pick you up. So, what’s the point of doing what you know you won’t get away with?
“We’re telling you criminals in the state to get out of Ondo State. And to the good people of Ondo State, we want to reassure you that the government of Lucky Aiyedatiwa is resolute in making the state conducive for businesses, social activities, and all that makes the state a good one to stay in.
“The uniqueness of the parade is because the criminal activities spread across kidnapping, stealing of cows, attempted murder, fraud and illegal counterfeiting of money, cultism, illegal migration and stealing of planks, burglary, arson, anti-grazing activities, and vandalism of critical government assets.
“Men of Amotekun Corps had assured the Muslim faithful that we would put everything in place to ensure that the festive period goes on fine without security breaches.
“During this period, in the last week, a Toyota and Lexus car was stolen on different occasions in Owo. We trailed, tracked, and traced it from Owo to Igbara-Oke, where we were able to apprehend the vehicle.
“We equally responded to the distress call in Owo at midnight Wednesday where a car was stolen, and within 30 minutes, we were able to recover the vehicle, and we are on the trail of the robbers.”
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