“Governor Obiano’s Enforcement of Demolition Stemmed kidnapping”

Effective enforcement of the Demolition Law by the Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano has stemmed incidents of kidnapping in the state. This assessment was made by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Joseph Agugoesi, on February 26, 2015 when he led a detachment of Police and the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) operatives to execute the demolition of two bungalows used as kidnap den in Azigbo, Nnewi South Local Government Area.

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The first bungalow, a four bedroom house adjoining the main building owned by one Eugene who resides outside the state is located at Iruokpala village Azigbo. The building was used by a tenant, 29 year old Onyekachukwu Unegbu from Awkaetiti and 27 year old Joshua Chukwuma from Nnobi, and other members of their gang to hide their kidnap victim Mr. Clement Unegbu who was picked-up at Nnewi on February 9, 2015.

Another bungalow belonging to Late Nathaniel Okoli of Umunobe village Azigbo was also used by a detachment of the same gang made up of Joshua Chukwuma and 30-year old Nnemeka Nkpuechina who hails from Abagana. They kidnapped one Madam Justina Ezenwa at Ekwulobia on October 3, 2014 and hid her until two days later after receiving a ransom of N4million dropped for them at Ugwuoba. The gang also sold a Toyota Camry snatched from the business woman on that fateful day.

ACP Agugoesi said that governor Obiano’s resolve to ensure the security of lives and property in Anambra and the commitment of security operatives at various levels and the Operation kpochapu has practically led to drastic reduction if not disappearance of kidnap incidents. According Agusoesi, “you can see the fast pace at which kidnap incidents are resolved. Any occurrence or report is followed up immediately by the Police and solved, that is why Anambra is safer.”

ACP Agugoesi explained that the gangs who are now in Police net over the Azigbo kidnap den were tracked by the operatives following report of the kidnap and they tried to retreat leading to the escape of the victim on February 5, 2015 just after two days and were subsequently apprehended. The ACP advised young men in Anambra state who are still tempted to embark on such nefarious activities to desist stressing that the law enforcement agencies are prepared to deal with such cases.

Speaking on the demolitions at Azigbo, Mr. Onyeka Onwuegbusi, a native of the village expressed sadness at the bad turn of events which has jolted people in their peaceful village. He said: “we didn’t know we had robbers and kidnappers amongst us. You can see that the landlord is not there. Anyway I am happy that the main building is spared which means the demolished building is done based on what the law said. I can only advice our young men to avoid crime.”