In an operation on Wednesday, the Enugu State Government demolished properties utilized by kidnappers to hold their victims in the outskirts of Enugu, the state’s capital.
These properties included an unfinished storey-building with an underground tunnel at Nkwubor Layout in Emene Nike, where a significant amount of arms and ammunition were found, and a large farm hosting a poultry, piggery, and plantain plantation at Ogbeke Nike, both in Enugu East LGA.
During the operation, 17 firearms were seized at Nkwubor Nike, including eight AK47 rifles, seven pump-action rifles, and two short guns, while two AK47 rifles were recovered at the Ogbeke Nike farm. Additionally, shrines, charms, and small Indian hemp farms were dismantled.
Following months of covert investigation into the kidnappers’ activities, security forces raided the two hideouts, resulting in the rescue of some victims and the confiscation of illegal items after confrontations with the criminals.
The Enugu State Government, aligning with Governor Peter Mbah’s commitment to stamping out crime in the state, had announced plans to demolish structures used for criminal purposes in accordance with Section 315 of the Criminal Code (Second Amendment) Law Cap. 30, Laws of Enugu State.
At Agu Ogbeke, Nike, the Chairman of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA), Uche Anya, emphasized the government’s resolve to eradicate criminal activities, stating that criminals will find no safe haven in the state.
Speaking about the criminal hideout at Nkwubor, Emene, Nike, Anya highlighted the gruesome activities that took place there and emphasized the need to take down such places in accordance with the laws of the state.
Any new developments on the properties will be managed by the government, with plans to repurpose the areas for beneficial use. The Chairman of ECTDA confirmed that more structures have been earmarked for demolition as part of the ongoing crackdown.
“Enugu State has a law against kidnapping, backed by the Criminal Code, which prohibits any act that compromises the liberty of individuals leading to harm or death,” Anya concluded.