Benue govt demolishes kidnappers hideout in Makurdi

By Titus Atondu, Makurdi

In line with provisions of the Benue State Law on Prohibition of Abduction, hostage-taking/kidnapping, cultism and similar activities, the Benue State Government has demolished an apartment used by kidnappers at BIPC Quarters, Nyiman Layout, Makurdi.

The demolition followed the  order by Governor Samuel Ortom when he  visited  the Nigeria Police Headquarters in Makurdi on Monday where the bodies of three kidnappers killed by security agencies were paraded.

In an interview with journalists, Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Colonel Paul Hemba said the action was a faithful implementation of the law as the structure was being used by kidnappers to keep their victims and negotiate for ransom.

He stated that two suspects were arrested in connection with the kidnapping in addition to the three who were killed in an exchange of gun fire with men of ‘Operation Zenda,’ the special Anti-Crime unit of the Benue State Police Command.

The Security Adviser urged landlords to do proper checks on would-be tenants before giving them access to their apartments to avoid a repeat of the ugly incident, stressing that the land where the house was demolished would also be revoked in compliance with the law.