October 06, 2024
By Samuel Ogunsona
The Enugu State government has demolished another property used for kidnapping activities, located at Amaebo Owelli Autonomous Community in Awgu LGA.
This move is part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to combat kidnapping and other criminal activities in the state.
Executive Chairman of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, Mr. Uche Anya, revealed that the demolished mansion was used to hold kidnapping victims.
“What you see here today is the continuation of the war of the Enugu State government against all manner of criminality. Today, we are here to take down a kidnappers’ den. The property you see us taking down right now is a place where horrendous criminal activities happened.
“For instance, on 25th of May 2024, some deadly kidnappers abducted a man in Enugu, brought him here, stripped bare, even naked to his red boxers, bound him, pointed guns at him, and forced him to start talking to his family to request for money. They posted that video to his relatives.
“They held him down, but to the glory of God and the commitment of Governor Mbah, who is giving his all to security, the government and security agencies, through our state-of-the-art security system, were able to see what was happening in this rural community.
“Security agencies moved to the place. Every other person was arrested, but the kingpin escaped to Ebonyi. We tracked him to Ebonyi, and he escaped to Lagos where the Enugu State Government and the security agencies caught up with him.”
In May 2024, a male victim was recorded in the building with several AK-47 rifles pointed at his head.
Fortunately, security agencies tracked the location, rescued the victim, and apprehended most of the criminals, recovering arms and ammunition.
This demolition follows the August destruction of properties linked to kidnapping in Ogbeke Nike and Nkwubor Nike areas, Enugu East LGA, where a cache of arms and ammunition was recovered
“Interestingly, the kingpin of the gang that did this nonsense was a member of the same gang we went after somewhere at Ogbeke Nike.
“To those who say why not convert these properties to good use, we want these to serve as a deterrent in accordance with the law. The Enugu State Government does not want anything that will remind us of the deadly criminality.
“We just want to put it out of our minds. We do not need to acquire a criminal’s property to use it to serve the public. We bring it down and we do our own thing. We do not want to profit from their criminality,” he stated.
Section 315 (Second Amendment) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 30, Laws of Enugu State, mandates the demolition or forfeiture of buildings used for kidnapping.
The Government warns landlords that they will be held responsible for any criminal activities on their properties.
Mr. Anya emphasized that the government will not tolerate excuses from property owners and will enforce the law to the letter.
The state plans to construct a clinic or beneficial facility on the demolished property.
