The Anambra State Joint Security Task Force, on Friday, demolished a decrepit bungalow in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area, which served as the hideout of a notorious kidnapper.
The demolition exercise was in compliance with the directive by Governor Chukwuma Soludo, whose avowal is to rid the State of all criminal elements.
The governor had directed that the hideouts of kidnappers and all criminal elements in the State be raided and destroyed.
During the raid of the building, several incriminating items including locally fabricated pistols, charms, fetish concoctions, marijuana among others, were discovered, and some suspects arrested.
The police had recently traced a gang of suspected kidnapper to the hideout, following an attack and subsequent kidnap of two persons at Oko, Orumba North Local Government Area, and two other persons in Ekwulobia, Aguata Local Government Area.
The gunmen had entered Oko through Nanka for a kidnap operation and were on the verge of succeeding before the prompt intervention of the police special force acting on a tip- off, and subsequently engaged them in gun duel.
One of them was killed, but others escaped with bullet wounds.
The gunman killed at Oko, whose video went viral on some social handles, was identified as a former vigilante who was part of a four-man gang involved in high profile killings and kidnapping in the community.
Spokesman of the State police Command, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, had explained that the command received distress call about the kidnap of two persons at Oko, and while on their trail, they learnt that the gang had kidnapped two more persons at Ekwulobia. The police went in hot pursuit, and were able to track them down.
Ikenga said police operatives working with the vigilante, stormed the location, on Sunday, rescued the four victims and arrested one Emeka, a suspected accomplice.
According to Ikenga, the said Emeka confessed to the crime, and led the detectives to the hideout of his gang in Oba, Idemili South, where a shootout ensued.
Ikenga added that the gang leader, one Chinedu Ajogu aka Sampolo, was gunned down and five other persons including a native doctor arrested for interrogation.
Addressing journalists later at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, Governor Soludo commended the efforts of the State Joint Security Task Force, saying the demolition exercise would serve as a deterrence to other criminals.
He said it has been established that the building demolished was being used as a den for criminal activities, stressing that the government policy does not allow any criminality to reign in the State.
He warned that henceforth, in line with the law, criminals will have no place to hide in any part of Anambra State, assuring that his government is fully determined to ensure that the State is safe for everyone, adding that people should be able to move freely without fear of molestation.
He also applauded the cooperation of residents who have been volunteering information, adding that every stranger is suspicious until his or her job is confirmed to be legitimate.
The governor, again, re-emphasised that any building being used for criminal activities in the State will be brought down and confiscated by the government.
He also appealed to residents to be security cautious at all times, stressing that they should always report strangers and criminals operating in their communities to security agencies.