The Enugu State government has demolished yet another property allegedly used for kidnapping activities in the state, warning landlords that it would enforce the bringing down of any property linked to such evil acts.

In August, SaharaReporters reported that the state government demolished properties linked to kidnapping at Ogbeke Nike and Nkwubor Nike areas, both in Enugu East LGA, recovering cache of arms and ammunition.


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.”

However, addressing journalists at the site Saturday's demolition, the Executive Chairman, Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, Mr Uche Anya, explained that the mansion located at Amaebo Owelli Autonomous Community in Awgu LGA, was used for keeping victims of kidnapping.


According to him, the video of a male kidnapping victim, who had several AK-47 rifles 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.

“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."


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."

Kewtt:
Supreme Court Rules Against Property Demolition Over Family Member's Alleged Crime
Petitioner lawyer Iqbal Syed drew attention to a recent Supreme Court ruling that said similar demolition threats will be met with a national response.

The petitioner is a co-owner of the land in Village Kathlal, Kheda District, according to revenue records given by Syed. He also mentioned a resolution passed on August 21, 2004, by the Kathlal Gram Panchayat, approving the building of residential homes on the property.

According to the petitioner, his family has lived in these homes for about 20 years. Syed informed the court that on September 6, 2024, the petitioner had filed a complaint with the Deputy SP, Nadiad, Kheda District, under Section 333 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. In the lawsuit, the petitioner said that although the law should proceed against the accused, the petitioner's lawfully
built and occupied homes should not be threatened or destroyed.

Such threats of demolition are against the rule of law, the Supreme Court emphasized, and any alleged criminal activity must be dealt with through the proper judicial channels. Concerns regarding the demolishing of properties based on criminal accusations has recently been voiced by another bench of the Supreme Court.

A bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan stated on September 2, 2024, in a series of petitions contesting 'bulldozer actions' that the Court is thinking about creating national rules to deal with the problem of government-ordered home demolitions as a form of punishment.

Atuero:
Tit for tat


If you are far away, there is not hard in putting in a security guard to look after your uncompleted and unoccupied structures and report any suspicious movement around the structure to security agents

Gov Mba is proactive
But on a stolen mandate

AderonkeOlaniyi:


How are you sure the house owners are innocent?

Babangidapikin:
The law is senseless if nobody told you.. you have catch the criminals while allow innocent home owners suffer ...It is a different thing if they are willful accomplish. They could have built their house in any state but they choose yours, should they leave their jobs to be securing an uncompleted house.

Babangidapikin:
The law is senseless if nobody told you.. you have catch the criminals while allow innocent home owners suffer ...It is a different thing if they are willful accomplish. They could have built their house in any state but they choose yours, should they leave their jobs to be securing an uncompleted house.

Kewtt:


What if the security guard paid by you is renting out your house for criminal activities?

AderonkeOlaniyi:


How are you sure the house owners are innocent?

Fiscus105:
You shouldn't only demolish the properties, you should try to send them to their creator!


Despirate situation needs despirate measure.

Babangidapikin:
The law is senseless if nobody told you.. you have catch the criminals while allow innocent home owners suffer ...It is a different thing if they are willful accomplish. They could have built their house in any state but they choose yours, should they leave their jobs to be securing an uncompleted house.

Babangidapikin:
The law is senseless if nobody told you.. you have catch the criminals while allow innocent home owners suffer ...It is a different thing if they are willful accomplish. They could have built their house in any state but they choose yours, should they leave their jobs to be securing an uncompleted house.

oneMalik:
The law is senseless and you break it ... just think about it !

you want security and condemn the law .... welldon .

if those AK-47s were pointed on your head you will understand .

kelvincoll:
Kudos to the govt and security operatives for the arrest, the menace needs to be curbbed fully.

But outright demolishing?

Would have prefer the property is confiscated and converted for public use. Maybe a school, primary health care center, aged homes, etc

However I get it, demolishing sends some psychological torture to the owners and aspiring kidnappers

Also, if not demolition, some government can be so corrupt to release the property back to the criminal owner.

Sill my 2cents would prefer conversion...

Babangidapikin:
The law is senseless if nobody told you.. you have catch the criminals while allow innocent home owners suffer ...It is a different thing if they are willful accomplish. They could have built their house in any state but they choose yours, should they leave their jobs to be securing an uncompleted house.

CJStarz:

Desperate not Despirate