By Fadlillah el-Kurebe
Niger state government has demolished a residence of a suspected kidnapper in Yikangbe, a suburb of Minna, the state capital.
The structures demolished include a completed two bed room flat where he occupies with his family and another yet-to-be completed two bedroom flat.
The state commissioner for Local Government, Community Development, Chieftaincy Affairs and Internal Security, Emmanuel Umar supervised the demolition, which was carried out in the presence of heavy security men.
Speaking to newsmen, Umar explained that a good citizen of the state gave the security agents vital information about the suspicious activities of the suspect, which led to his arrest and subsequent demolition of the apartment.
The Commissioner said the suspect has since been taken to Abuja for further investigation.
He assured citizens of the state that the state governor, Abubakar Sani-Bello is determined to protect lives and property and rid off the state of criminal elements.
Umar stressed that government will not allow kidnappers take the state as their safe haven, pointing out that the same thing will be carried out on any property that is established with proceeds of kidnapping, banditry or other forms of criminality in the state.
“What you are seeing behind is a proceed of crime. The building is owned by a kidnapper that has been arrested and since it is our policy not to allow criminality reign in the state, the law enforcement agencies in partnership with the state government are so happy to have established this,” he said
While commending the efforts of the security agencies, the commissioner also appreciated those who provided useful information that led to the arrest of the suspect.
He encouraged the people to always be vigilante and report to security agents suspicious activities around their vicinity.
The ward heads of Yikangbe and Kpakungu, Inuwa Makun and Tanko Ibrahim commended the efforts of the state government and security agencies promising that the people of the communities will be more security conscious.
Some residents of the area who were shocked by the development, said the arrested kidnapper moved into the neighbourhood two months ago after he bought the property.
