A single mother, Rebecca Ako, from Owenna in Osun State, has been arrested and paraded by the Osun Amotekun Corps for spending counterfeit currency. Ako was one of several suspects apprehended for various crimes across the state by the security agency.

In a statement released by the Osun Amotekun Corps’ spokesperson, Yusuf Idowu, and obtained in Osogbo, the state capital, on Tuesday, Corps Commander Dr. Adekunle Omoyele provided details on the arrest. He explained that the 30-year-old Ako was caught in Sabo Market, Ilesa, where she was found spending fake money. During the parade, Omoyele added that Ako confessed to the crime, citing financial hardship as her reason.

Speaking to Akahi News Online, Ako admitted her involvement in the crime and revealed that she was introduced to the scheme by a co-tenant after her husband abandoned her.

“I am from Benue State and live in Owenna. I used fake money to buy goods. After my husband left me, I stayed with a woman named Mrs. Elizabeth. She later moved to Abuja and introduced me to using counterfeit money. She would send it to me via dispatch. When she gave me N100,000 in fake currency, I would return N50,000 in genuine money after spending the counterfeit notes,” Ako explained.

Also paraded was a 19-year-old girl, Adegboye Glory, arrested in Iwo for burglary and theft of food items. In addition, a 50-year-old man, Najeemden Adeyemi, was arrested for attempted kidnapping and theft. Adeyemi allegedly lured female victims to secluded areas using a fake Facebook account.

The Osun Amotekun Corps Commander, Dr. Omoyele, vowed to make the state inhospitable for criminals and called on residents to cooperate with security agencies in combating crime.