BENIN CITY—On March 06, 2025, the Edo State Government sent a resounding message to criminals, demolishing houses in Illeh, Esan West LGA, and Uromi, Esan North East LGA, identified as hideouts for suspected kidnappers. The operation, executed under a new anti-kidnapping law signed by Governor Monday Okpebholo, underscores the administration’s zero-tolerance stance on crime. Special Adviser on Security, Akhere Paul, declared the demolitions lawful and necessary, spotlighting the state’s commitment to safeguarding its citizens.
Akhere stood amid the rubble, unflinching: “These houses harbored kidnapped victims—police raids uncovered dangerous weapons here.” He tied the action to the recently enacted legislation, passed by the Edo State House of Assembly, which mandates demolition for properties linked to kidnapping. “This isn’t just punishment—it’s deterrence,” he said, urging landlords to profile tenants rigorously. “Verify their identity, job, and background with police help before renting, or risk this fate.”
The move follows a chilling confession from the suspects, part of a seven-member gang. Speaking to newsmen before the bulldozers rolled in, their leader revealed their last job: targeting a man for his luxury car, abducting him and a woman, and pocketing N10 million in ransom before releasing them unharmed. “We marked him for his ride,” he admitted, exposing the predatory lens through which Edo’s streets are scanned. The gang confirmed the razed properties as their base, now reduced to debris.
SP Michael Anetor, Commander of the Special Task Force, hailed the demolition as a legal strike against crime’s infrastructure. “This will checkmate kidnapping and more—it’s a warning shot,” he said. Anetor called on Edo residents to join the fight: “Watch your neighborhoods, report anything odd to police or our task force. A secure Edo is everyone’s job.” His words frame this as a collective crusade, not just a government flex.
The demolitions land as Nigeria wrestles with spiraling insecurity. Rivers State’s Niger Delta Rescue Movement threatens oil production over withheld funds, while Lagos saw Nigerian Air Force personnel batter Ikeja Electric staff over a power cut. Edo’s action contrasts with such chaos—precise, lawful, and proactive. Where the Senate’s suspension of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan defies courts, Okpebholo’s law aligns with them, wielding authority with purpose.
Reaction on X is electric. “Edo’s cleaning house—kidnappers beware!” one user posted. Another quipped, “N10M ransom? Time to ditch the flashy wheels.” Akhere’s profiling push resonates—landlords now face a stark choice: vet or lose. The gang’s luxury-car tactic mirrors broader trends—wealth as a target, from Rivers’ oil to Edo’s streets—yet Okpebholo’s response hits the source, not just the symptom.
As of March 07, 2025, Edo’s rubble marks a turning point. The N10 million haul hints at deeper networks—more demolitions may loom. Anetor’s citizen-watch plea tests community resolve in a state where police resources strain. Okpebholo’s not waiting for federal aid like others; he’s carving a safer Edo, one fallen wall at a time. Nigeria watches—will this spark a crime-fighting wave, or just shift the shadows?
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