The Edo State government, under the administration of Senator Monday Okpebholo, has begun demolishing buildings linked to kidnappers across the state.
Okpebholo’s Special Adviser on Security, Mr Paul Akhere, led security personnel on the demolition exercise at Illeh in Esan West Local Government Area and Uromi in Esan Northeast LGA. He stated that the action was carried out by the law.
Akhere reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to protecting the lives and property of residents, warning that the administration would not tolerate any house or establishment used as a hideout for criminal activities.
He also urged landlords to properly profile prospective tenants before renting out their properties to prevent criminals from using them as safe havens.
He said: “This house has been used for criminal activities. They keep kidnapped victims here, and a raid by men of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) recovered some dangerous weapons as well.
“According to the new law on kidnapping, passed by the Edo State House of Assembly and signed by Governor Monday Okpebholo, any house found being used for kidnapping activities will be demolished. This will serve as a deterrent to others.
“You must profile a person, before giving out your house to him or her for rent. Go to the police station and let them help you in profiling the new person before you give out your property. You must verify their identity, and where they work.
Edo governor’s special adviser on security also assured the residents of the state that the demolition would be a continuous one, reiterating that the Edo state government under Okpebholo had given a marching order to flush out all criminal elements in Edo and make it habitable for all.
The Commander of Special Task Force, Michael Anetor, a Superintendent of Police (SP), while also speaking, pointed out that the exercise, which is in accordance with the law, would serve as a deterrent to others and help checkmate kidnapping and other criminal activities.
Anetor called on all Edo residents to assist in the fight against kidnapping by keeping watch over their vicinities and reporting suspicious activities to the nearest police station or to members of the Special Task Force, stressing that, “a safer and secure Edo is the duty of all.”
The suspects, Utubor Uchenna and Felix Ebama, who belong to a gang of 7, identified the property as their hideout before the demolition and had been involved in high-profile kidnapping within the Edo Central axis, with the last operation fetching them N10 million.
The leader of the gang, Utubor Uchenna, noted that their last victim was marked because of the kind of luxury car he was driving while he was kidnapped along with a lady but released unhurt after parting with a ransom of N10 million.
The special task force, in conjunction with other security agencies in Edo, recorded successes of recent in the fight against criminal activities, with many criminal hideouts raided and suspects apprehended and handed over to the police.
(The Nation)
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