Reactions will continue to trail governments? decision to bring down buildings used as hideouts for criminal activities wherever such occurs in the country. It was like that in Anambra, Ekiti, Edo and Enugu states, where the respective state governments had taken such a tough stance against crimes and criminals in the past.

So, it was not strange seeing the same reaction after Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State, recently not only ordered the demolition of a building allegedly used for criminal activities in Ogheghe, on the outskirts of Benin City, the state capital, but personally monitored the exercise.

The governor also warned landlords that his administration would not hesitate to demolish structures linked to kidnapping, cultism and rituals.

According to reports, the building was used for internet fraud and kidnapping, with victims being held against their will and subjected to ritualistic practices.

Human skulls, clothing, fetish objects and other things were allegedly discovered in the building.

Indeed, to demonstrate that the government meant business, the state task force in charge of demolitions also brought down another building in Amagba area of Benin, said to be the headquarters of a secret cult group. The building, located at the end of Arena Street in Amagba had a hall, several rooms with mattresses, and office spaces believed to have served as a hub for the group?s activities.

The governor who was visibly disturbed by what he saw at the building in Ogheghe said ?I am saddened by what is happening here. Children were kidnapped and kept here for years. You can see the shrines in this apartment, this is wickedness in its highest form. This kind of evil is unacceptable in Edo State.?

He added that ?We will continue to fight crime and criminality. Wherever they hide, we will fish them out and demolish their hideouts. There will be no sanctuary for criminals in Edo State. We are serious and resolute, Edo must be safe.?

The governor was, by demolishing the structures, giving effect to the new anti-cultism law that he signed into law.

We appreciate the point being made by those who feel that demolition of structures for whatever purpose is bad because it portrays us as people who don?t value assets. That we should otherwise put such structures to valuable use even if they were hitherto being used for dysfunctional purposes. Moreover, that such demolition forecloses any possibility of reversal if it is eventually discovered that there was an error of judgement in the initial decision.

But then, the other side of the coin is that if the structures are left standing, the possibility of returning them to their owners was high, especially if they later become ?politically correct?. This would defeat the aim of whatever law is in place to curb the crimes over which they were demolished in the first place.

The other side of that is that if the building is not pulled down, the temptation to return it to the owner for the same political reason is high.

Again, such structures which are usually believed to be products of illicit wealth may serve as model for people that want to make quick money; believing that it pays.

We can go on and on with the pros and cons of the policy. But then, it ends up being a catch-22 situation.

What is clear, however, is that the governor relied on a law duly passed by the state house of assembly in carrying out the demolitions. His actions cannot therefore be said to be illegal.

But this does not preclude anyone who feels sufficiently aggrieved about his demolished structure from approaching the courts for redress. Where the court feels injustice has been done, it would ensure payment of compensation to the owner.

Meanwhile, the governor has promised that a police station would be erected for public good on the spot where the building in Ogheghe was pulled down.

This is far better than have, standing on it, a building that is posing a threat to law-abiding citizens of the state. (The Nation Editorial)

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