…Govt demolishes dens, seizes lands
…200 suspects, including kidnap kingpin in custody

By Jimitota Onoyume

PORT HARCOURT— GOVERNOR of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, drove fear into kidnappers, cultists and other gangsters in the state recently when he personally led security chiefs to demolish their identified hideouts in Port Harcourt and Obio Akpor local government areas. Within one week, he supervised the demolition of several properties belonging to the criminals and confiscated their landed property, vowing to erect public facilities on them. He stood by as bulldozers leveled the structures.  The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Folunso Adebanjo and men from other security agencies were with him.

Gov Wike receives brief from a police officer at the scene

Security agencies

Governor Wike said the exercise would continue until the entire state was clean of cells operated by the miscreants.

We will build public facilities on demolished hideouts

At Eagle Highland where two hideaways were located, he said government would build police station on one and health centre on the other. The governor commended security operatives in the state for their doggedness battle to rid the state of hoodlums, adding that communities and other stakeholders should volunteer timely information to security operatives to enable them succeed.

His words, “The Rivers State Government has taken over the criminal hideout of these arrested cultists.  After the ongoing demolition of their hideouts, we will build a police station and mini barracks in this location.  We have also taken over the home of the kingpin that we have also demolished.” “This is to let members of the public know that this administration is serious.  We will not allow anyone to cause insecurity in this state. We will chase criminals to their hideout and reduce crime”.

Wike offers amnesty to kidnappers

Gov Wike stepping into one of the dens before the demolition

Meantime, Governor Wike has said his government was ready to grant amnesty to kidnappers that show remorse and quit crime.

200 kidnap suspects in our custody – Army, Police

At a camp operated by one of the hoodlums  Munachim Ihunwo in Obio Akpor local government area,  Lieutenant Col  SA.C.Unaogu, said the kidnap kingpin had about 200 boys under his command in the place,  adding that security operatives had to move in dislodging them from the place. Unaogu, who was among top security operatives that accompanied the governor on the demolition exercise, said security operatives would continue to do their best to rid the state of the unwanted elements.

He said security agents arrested the kidnap kingpin, Ihunwo and his boys. The state Police Commissioner, Mr  Adebanjo, said the Police also arrested some kidnap suspects.

New Rivers kidnap law

Cultism, kidnapping have been a twin security challenge in the state. Shortly after assuming office, May 29, 2015, the governor identified the menace and set in motion plans to tackle it.  Precisely on August 7, he signed into law an amendment on the Rivers state Anti-kidnapping law passed by the Rivers state House of Assembly.

Under the new Rivers State Kidnap (Prohibition) Amendment Law, 2015, kidnappers are to forfeit proceeds of their kidnapping, whether in the form of assets and otherwise, to the state government. While signing the amendment into law at the Government House, Port Harcourt, Governor Wike expressed hope that it would discourage kidnapping and related crimes.