Police demolish kidnappers’ den in Nnewi Anambra State

The police in Anambra, on Friday demolished two bungalows used as kidnappers’ den in Azigbo, Nnewi South Local Government Area of the state. 

Mr Joseph Agugoesi, Assistant Commissioner of Police, who led the operation, commended the effective enforcement of the demolition law by Gov. Willie Obiano which had stemmed incidents of kidnapping in the state. 

He said that the first bungalow, a four bedroom house adjoining the main building at Iruokpala village, Azigbo, was owned by one Eugene who resided outside the state. 

According to NAN, Agugoesi said that the building was used by a tenant, Onyekachukwu Unegbu, 29, from Awka-Etiti; Joshua Chukwuma, 27, from Nnobi, and other members of their gang to hide their victim, Mr Clement Unegbu, abducted at Nnewi on Feb. 9. 

According to him, another bungalow belonging to the late Nathaniel Okoli of Umunobe village, Azigbo, was also used by a detachment of the same gang made up of Joshua Chukwuma and Nnemeka Nkpuechina, 30, who hails from Abagana. 

Agugoesi said that they kidnapped Madam Justina Ezenwa, business woman, at Ekwulobia on Oct. 3, and released her two days later after receiving a ransom of N4 million dropped for them at Ugwuoba in Enugu state. 

He said that the gang also sold a Toyota Camry snatched from the business woman on the fateful day. 

Agugoesi said that Obiano’s proactive efforts on security had led to drastic reduction, if not disappearance, of kidnap incidents in the state. 

“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,” he said. 

Agugoesi explained that the gangs who are now in police net were tracked by the operatives following report of the kidnap. 

The ACP advised young men in Anambra 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. 

Mr Onyeka Onwuegbusi, a native of the community, expressed sadness at the bad turn of events which had jolted people in their peaceful village. “We didn’t know we had robbers and kidnappers among 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,” he said.