Police demolish kidnappers’ den in Anambra …Arrest 17 suspects

The Anambra State Police Command had a very busy day yesterday as it demolished two buildings belonging to alleged kidnap suspects in Ogidi, Idemili North local government and Ojoto South Local Government of the state. It also paraded 17 suspects involved in kidnapping, armed robbery, hijacking of goods and girls involved in faking vehicle plate numbers and licences. The State Police Commissioner, Usman Gwary, led the squad for the demolition operation along with the commander of the state Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), James Nwafor.

Though the kidnap suspects were still at large, their kinsmen went wild in jubilation yesterday as the buildings were reduced to debris.
Addressing newsmen at Ogidi during the operation, Gwary said: “This place is conducive for all sorts of crimes which is a four bed room flat, the suspects have kept about 14 kidnap victims while they have earned over N100 million through their victims.

“This house has been used for such purpose and in line with the provisions of the law of Anambra State, the governor, Willie Obiano, has revoked the certificate of occupancy and has equally ordered for its demolition. Any building used for any form of crime or built with the proceeds of crime in the state must be demolished.”

Speaking about the arrested suspects, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Emeka Chukwuemeka (DSP) said three suspects, Ndubuisi Udokoro, Lawrence Nweze and Moredays Chukwuma who was arrested two years ago and released by court in a similar offence were involved in diversion of vehicles conveying goods belonging to their victims.

Chukwuemeka said the suspects were diverting trailer loads of toilet tissues, refrigerators and chemicals, and have this style of arresting the owners of such vehicles, tie them and blind fold them while they made away with their goods, adding that 600 bags of chemical for plastics found in their warehouse in Asaba, Delta State were impounded by the police.

Chigozie Ezeora and Chukwudi Ugwu, who he said he dealt on ammunition, were arrested with uncountable number of ammunition, while Nnaemeka Ugonna and Onyeka Okoli were arrested in Onitsha where they specialize in motorcycle (Okada) robbery.

The five girls among them, Oluchukwu Yoko from Ezza in Ebonyi State, Charity Ahue from Gboko in Benue State, Odo Maryann from Enugu, Chukwueloka Chioma from Nnewi and Orji Chinelo from Ohazara in Ebonyi, the Police spokesman said, were involved in faking products and were arrested in Nnewi two days ago, where they produced fake new vehicle number plates and licenses of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC)