A couple has been arrested in Ondo State for allegedly burgling into an orphanage home, stealing bags of rice and other food items.

The suspects were nabbed by the men of the State Security Network Agency, otherwise known as Amotekun Corps, following an intelligence gathering on their activities.

John Avor, (42), and his wife, Mary Avor (38) were apprehended along with their three minor children after they allegedly burgled into the orphanage located in the Shagari area of Akure, the state capital.

Parading the suspects, Amotekun Corps Commander, Adetunji Adeleye, said Avor with his families broke into the orphanage at the dead of the night to steal the bags of rice.

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

The corps commander stated that the suspects were serial burglers who break into homes and shops to steal staple food items, adding that they had a ‘ready-buyer’ for the stolen foodstuffs.

“We have a family that specialises in breaking into houses comprising the husband, the wife, and the children. They are family of thieves.

“We equally have three minors, which belong to the family. They are aged 12 and 15. But, for obvious reasons, we are not going to parade the minors. They stole the bags of rice from an orphanage at Shagari Village in Akure,” Adeleye added.

Speaking to reporters, Avor, who claimed he is a gateman, blamed his action on the devil.

Additionally, no less than twenty other suspects were also paraded for various offences and crime.

In its determination to get rid of criminals in the state, particularly kidnappers, the Corps Commander disclosed that the Amotekun Rangers, a unit of the formation that specialises in keeping surveillance on the forest reserves in the state, combed the Elegbeka forest notorious for kidnapping and arrested five suspects.

He said one kidnap suspects was arrested by the Amotekun Rangers while other members of the gang were at large after collecting a ransom of N2 million.

Adeleye said: “The kidnap suspect we have is a 28-year-old Usman Abubakar that was arrested in Igbo Oba, Owo.

“He confirmed collecting N2 million from the suspect, and he told us how they shared it, and he told us how to get to the root of their godfathers.

“The Amotekun Rangers launched by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa recently 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 safety of commuters’ lives and 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.”

Adeleye assured the people of the state and investors of safe environment for life and property, cautioning against buying secondhand items without asking for genuine receipts. (Courtesy, excluding headline, Daily Trust)