The Ondo State Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun Corps, has claimed responsibility for the arrest of about 80 per cent of convicts currently serving time in correctional centres across the state.
The state commander of the Corps, Adetunji Adeleye, disclosed this on Sunday in Akure during an interview with journalists.
He said the large number of criminals prosecuted by Amotekun had overwhelmed the judicial system, prompting closer collaboration with the courts.
“We not only investigate, the law permits us to investigate and prosecute.
“We conduct thorough investigations, take the suspects to competent courts, and secure their conviction,” Adeleye said.
“As of today, many of those convicts in various correctional centres were prosecuted by Amotekun.
“The number of criminals we have successfully prosecuted surpasses those handled by other agencies.”
Adeleye recalled that before the establishment of Amotekun, crime was rampant in the state, with frequent cases of robbery and insecurity.
He noted that measures such as banning commercial motorcycles (okada) at night, as well as restrictions on tinted and unregistered vehicles, significantly reduced crime rates.
“From our survey, over 70 per cent of crimes were carried out with the aid of motorcycles.
“Once we enforced the ban, criminal activities in the state, especially in the metropolis, dropped by more than 80 per cent,” he said.
The commander acknowledged that the policies caused some inconvenience to residents but maintained that the measures were necessary to restore public safety.