Ondo teenager confesses taking part in over 40 robberies

A 16-year-old armed robbery suspect, Sunday Ojo, nicknamed after the notorious armed robber, Oyenusi, on Monday explained how he was involved in no fewer than 40 operations in Ondo State.

Ojo was arrested by the Ondo State Security Network Agency also known as Amotekun Corps alongside two other robbery suspects, 13-year-old Timileyin Femi, aka Anini and 16-year-old and Matti Lowe, aka Osunbo.

He spoke in an interview with journalists when he was paraded alongside other suspects.

"l have lost count of the robbery operations I have been involved in. But they can't be fewer than 40. I was overwhelmed by an evil spirit that motivates me to steal," he said.

The state Commander of Amotekun, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, described Ojo as a second-time armed robbery suspect.

He said, "We have arrested a juvenile robber, who adopted the name of notorious Nigerian armed robber, Oyenusi.

"We re-arrested the young boy we arrested three years ago for illegal possession of firearms and robbery and took him to a juvenile home.

"At that time, he was 13 years. The best we could do was to hand him over to a juvenile and see if he could be rehabilitated.

"Now, he is 16. This time, he broke into several shops and removed items. Between then and now, he confessed that he had engaged in over 40 housebreaking activities."

In all, the corps paraded no fewer than 31 suspects arrested for alleged involvement in various criminal activities in the state.

According to the corps, the suspects were allegedly involved in crimes such as kidnapping, stealing and burglary and they were arrested at different locations in the state.

One of the suspects, Abdullahi Adamu, who hailed from Katsina State, said he joined the gang of kidnappers after his father was killed by armed robbers some months back.

He was said to have been involved in the kidnapping of a farmer in Akunnu Akoko, the Akoko North-East Local Government Area of the state.

Speaking to journalists through an interpreter, the suspect said, "This is my first time of involving in kidnapping. I was introduced to the crime by the leader of the gang who has been killed now. I joined the gang after my father was killed by armed robbers some months ago."

Adeleye declared that the corps would not relent until criminals leave the state.

Adeleye said, "We have several criminals that have been terrorising different parts of Ondo State. We have 31 suspected criminals around Ondo apprehended within a week across the 18 local government areas of the state."