Man Rearrested 72 Hours After Leaving Prison For Stealing, Drug Peddling

Simon Matthew, 21, was paraded at the Amotekun Corps headquarters in Alagbaka, Akure, the capital of Ondo State, on Monday for once again stealing and selling drugs. It was a pitiful scene.

He had just been released from prison on January 1, 2024, having served his entire sentence after being found guilty of a similar offense.

Simon Matthew from Abakaliki, Ebonyi State was one of the 29 crime suspects arrested as part of Amotekun Corps’ 24-hour security patrol during the Yuletide across all 18 local government areas of the state, with assistance from other security agencies. He was arrested 72 hours after leaving the correctional centre for the same crimes he was jailed for.

The accused were taken into custody on charges of kidnapping and motorbike theft, among other offences.

Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, the Corps Commander of Amotekun, stated: “The ex-convict said to be a drug dealer who also committed robberies. We also have roughly four suspects who broke the state’s anti-grazing law.

“Simon Matthew, the ex-convict, pretended to be a drug dealer and disclosed that he had previously been convicted of narcotics and robbery offences, which he repeated.

“During the past week, we have successfully apprehended 29 individuals who were implicated in various security breaches, such as kidnapping, armed robbery, breaking into houses, shoplifting, and motorbike theft, among other offences.

“In the same way, those that were involved in illegal possession of firearms and have been on our watchlist in the last five months were arrested with guns, locally made pistols with which they perpetrate evil.

We stated early in the holiday season that there would be no significant bank robberies or robbery operations during that time.

“I want to thank officers of the Amotekun Corps, the Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the DSS, and those that joined hands in ensuring the safety of lives and properties in Ondo State throughout the yuletide period was not compromised.”

Dismissing as spurious the report that bandits invaded the Ondo community and overwhelmed operatives of the Amotekun Corps Adeleye said the purveyors of the report were plotting to dowse the morale of operatives of the formation.

He said: “It is so obvious that the said writer of the story did so for selfish gain of a certain quarter which the main intention was to dowse the morale of the Corps in the state over such mischievous write-up.

“We advise the general public to ignore such fake news and go about their legitimate businesses as the Akoko area of the state is safe for movement as the joint security agencies are fully on the ground to ensure the safety of lives and properties.

“As we talk now, the state is one of the safest. You will recall that early November will reassure members of the public that they are going to enjoy the Xmas and New Year holidays without fear of being molested. We placed it on record that there would not be bank robbery in Ondo state.

“So, I want to say that it was a cheap blackmail orchestrated by enemies of progress of the state and it is aimed at discrediting the Corps but we refused to be distracted.

“We will continue to serve our people and provide the quality security services that we are reputed for and it is what we all know that the 18 local government areas in Ondo state are safe from all these criminal activities. We refused to be distracted by the mischief-makers who are determined to rubbish the integrity of the Amotekun.”