… Seized large cache of arms and ammunition from underground tunnel
The Enugu State Government has demolished properties used by kidnappers for detaining their victims in the outskirts of Enugu, the state capital.
The properties abandoned by their owners over increasing kidnapping cases with little or no security were agricultural farm houses located in some parts of Enugu East Local Government Area of the state.
Among the properties were an uncompleted storey-building with an underground tunnel at Nkwubor Layout in Emene Nike, where a large cache of arms and ammunition were recovered; as well as a large farm housing a poultry, piggery, and plantain plantation at Ogbeke Nike all in Enugu East LGA, according to a statement by Governor Peter Mbah’s media office.
At Nkwubor Nike, 17 firearms were recovered, including eight AK47 riffles, seven pump action riffles, and two short guns, while two AK47 riffles were recovered at the Ogbeke Nike farm. Shrines, charms, and mini Indian hemp farms were also destroyed.
Security operatives had, following months of discreet investigation on the activities of the kidnappers, stormed the two hideouts, where they made the startling discoveries and rescued some victims after gun duels with the criminals.
It is recalled that the Enugu State Government had in line with the Governor Peter Mbah Administration’s determination to eradicate crime and criminality in the state, 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 said Section 315, which had been redundant since 2016 when it was so amended 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.”
Speaking to newsmen at the criminal hideout at Ogbeke, Nike, the Executive Chairman of Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, ECTDA, Uche Anya, said 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.
“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.
“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,” he stated.
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 AK47 riffles and other crazy equipments 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,” he said.
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.
“Enugu State has an anti-kidnapping law, but beside that, the Criminal Code covers that whatever that deprives you of your liberty and leads to death is what the government cannot condone,” he concluded.
