In it’s determination to rid the state of criminal activities, Enugu state Government has demolished a three storey underground “Castle” used by kidnappers for criminal activities at Amador-Owelli in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu state, warning House Owners against giving house(s,) to criminals, saying any house used for kidnapping or killing will be pulled down in accordance with the law.
Addressing Newsmen shortly after the house was pulled down, the Chairman of Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA) Uche Anya, said on 25Th May 2024, some deadly Kidnappers brought a man to the house, stripped him of his clothes and demanded ransom.
Pix: The demolished building
He said the swift action of the State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah led to the arrest of the gang ,while the kingpin escaped to Ebonyi and when he was trailed to Ebonyi, he escaped to Lagos. Luck ran out of him and he was arrested in Lagos.
Section 315 (Second Amendment) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 30, Laws of Enugu State provides, “If the building or structure owned by the offender or any other person, who knows or ought to reasonably know that the building or structure is so being used for that purpose, the building or structure shall be demolished or forfeited to the State Government.”
Pix-: The house being pulled downb
Speaking to newsmen at the site, the Executive Chairman, Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, Hon. Uche Anya, explained that the mansion located at Amaebo Owelli Autonomous Community in Awgu LGA of the state, was said to be used for keeping victims of kidnapping.
According to him, the video of a male kidnapping victim, who had several AK-47 riffles pointed at his head in May 2024, was recorded in the same building, but security agencies were able to track the building, rescuing the victim, while also apprehending most of the criminals and recovering a cache of arms and ammunition.
“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.
Pix: ECTDA Executive Chairman, Uche Anya
“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.
Several AK-47 rifles, semi-automatic weapons and all manners of ammunition; dozens of proscribed and offensive weapons were 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.
Calling for vigilance on the part of property owners, he said, “So, this is a warning to every landlord. The Enugu State Government will never accept it as an excuse. I am in Australia. I am in America. My brother-in-law took people to my property. Every landlord, once you put up a house in Enugu, we hold you responsible for any criminality that happens in your property; and once it becomes a violent crime, kidnapping, killing, armed robbery, we will take down the property in line with the law that was made by our predecessors. We will enforce it to the letter.
“As I speak to you, the government has taken over this property. That is why we are tearing it down. The title deed is revoked. The government of Enugu State will probably put up a clinic or something that will be more beneficial to the people of Owelli Court.”
The Mbah Administration has been carrying out a demolition campaign on properties linked to kidnapping and violent crimes to serve as a deterrent, insisting that no criminal would be allowed to enjoy the proceeds of crimes in the state.
The house owned by a businessman, Marcellus Okoroudo, ( Okpoka) was a three storey underground Castle. .
It was gathered that the owner of the house had an in-law( names withheld) who was in his 30s and was based in Onitsha Anambra state.
The in-law , , a brother to Marcellus’ wife was a known criminal , and a kidnap suspect l in Obosi, Anambra state.
Some of the people who spoke to newsmen said the family was tired of the suspect, who had been involved in criminal activities in Obosi and Onitsha and had been arrested severally , locked up and released by the Police, was brought to the village so that his activities could be checkmated
He continued with his criminal activities. Rather than turning a new leaf, he brought his gangs to the village and they Intensified their kidnapping and criminal activities.
Luck ran of them when they kidnapped someone and with tip off, they were arrested.
Following Enugu state law against kidnapping, the state government, through the Enugu State Capital Territory Development Authority-( ECTDA,) demolished the house
Pix-: The house pulled downm
Recall that the state government had also in August demolished properties linked to kidnapping at Ogbeke Nike and Nkwubor Nike both in Enugu East LGA, recovering cache of arms and ammunition.
Author: Maureen Ikpeama