Abia State Government yesterday demolished two properties, Akoto Bar and Resort Limited and a twin bungalow belonging to a notorious kidnapper and armed robber, Olisagbo Ifedike (a.k.a Ofeakwu).

The resort, a popular relaxation centre on Number 2 Afaraukwu Road beside Holy Ghost Technical College, and the twin bungalow located in Agbama, both suburbs of Umuahia, Abia State capital, were reduced to rubbles in compliance with the Abia State Anti-kidnap Law (as amended).

The law provides that government has the right to demolish or confiscate (or both) any property belonging to a kidnapper.

Ifedike hails from Oraifite in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State,

The demolition team was led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Task Force and Allied Matters, Capt. Awa Udonsi Agwu.

He told newsmen after the demolition exercise carried out under tight security that the buildings were pulled down on the orders of the governor, Chief Theodore Orji, after investigations by government revealed that the properties belonged to the kidnapper.

Agwu added that the letter authorising the demolitions emanated from the office of the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Cosmos Ndukwe. He said an empty plot of land near the resort has also been discovered to belong to Ofeakwu, noting that it is up to government to decide on what to do with the properties.

The governor’s aide disclosed that the wife of the kidnapper removed their belongings from the two buildings before the demolition exercise and their whereabouts were unknown.

News Express reports that when Ofeakwu was arrested last year, Anambra State Governor, Mr Peter Obi, did not only order the demolition of the kidnapper’s ill-gotten property but personally supervised the pulling down of his mansion in Onitsha.

During that demolition exercise, Obi had said that he was informed that the kidnap kingpin has hotels and other landed property in other states like Abia and promised to liaise with his colleague to discuss how such buildings would be demolished to deter others from joining the illicit venture.

•Photo: Anambra Governor Peter Obi (right) supervising the demolition of the kidnapper’s house last year. His Abia counterpart has followed suit.

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