The Enugu State Government, on Wednesday, demolished two properties used by kidnappers to hold their victims captive on the outskirts of Enugu, the state capital….CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>

The demolished properties included an uncompleted storey-building with an underground tunnel at Nkwubor Layout in Emene Nike, where a large cache of arms and ammunition was recovered.

One of the places used was also a large farm housing a poultry, piggery, and plantain plantation at Ogbeke Nike, in Enugu East Local Government Area.

This was announced in a statement by the media office of Governor Peter Mbah.

At Nkwubor Nike, 17 firearms were recovered, including eight AK-47 rifles, seven pump-action rifles, and two shotguns, while two AK-47 rifles were recovered at the Ogbeke Nike farm. Shrines, charms, and mini-marijuana farms were also destroyed.

Following months of investigation into the activities of the kidnappers, security operatives stormed the two hideouts, where they made the startling discoveries and rescued some victims after gun duels with the criminals.

The statement noted that in line with the government’s commitment to eradicate crime and criminality in the state, it announced its readiness to demolish properties being used for kidnapping purposes in line with Section 315 of the Criminal Code (Second Amendment) Law Cap. 30, Laws of Enugu State.

The statement quoted the Executive Chairman of Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, Uche Anya, to have stated that the demolitions were in compliance with the said law as directed by the government, stressing that there is no hiding place for criminals in the state.

He said, “This government is determined to exterminate all manner of criminality. So, people were kidnapped and brought here, including the woman that was kidnapped near the University of Nigeria, Enugu campus….CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>

“You can see the trouble we took to get here today. So, this has been ongoing. But after today, this place will never exist again in the manner you met it. That is why we are here to send a strong signal and we are also warning property owners not to come and tell us that they are in South Africa, China or Germany and do not know what is happening.”

“Once your property or commercial entity is used for kidnapping or anything involving grievous bodily harm or threat, including attempted murder, we will come after you and your property,” the statement added.

At Nkwubor, Emene, Nike, Anya told reporters, “The activities here were even more gruesome. You have seen the underground cell they built and covered it with a manhole.

“Ordinarily you will think nothing is happening there, but the eagle eye of the security in the course of doing their work detected that something was amiss, only to discover that there’s an underground where human beings are kept and we found their armoury, many AK-47 rifles and other crazy equipment that no civilian is entitled to hold.

“But, today, it is has to go down as directed by the governor in accordance with the Laws of Enugu State.”

The ECTDA Chairman said the government would in addition take over the properties and put them to good use, noting that the demolition is an ongoing process as more structures were already marked to go down.

“So, all these places will be taken over by the government and we can turn it into a children playground, garden, park or primary health care. But whoever thought he or she owned this place before this hour will no longer touch his or her foot here forever,” he said.