Sun, 28 Jul 2024

 

Kidnapping: Anambra govt demolishes church, 3 other buildings
 
By:
Wed, 6 Aug 2014   ||   Nigeria,
 

AWKA— FOUR buildings, including a church, said to belong to suspected kidnappers were yesterday demolished in Anambra State.

It was part of the state government’s continued clampdown on criminals in the state.

Governor Willie Obiano has already revoked the Certificates of Occupancy, C of Os of the four buildings.

Two of the buildings, including the church, belonged to one Pastor Ifeanyi Nwaezeagu, General Overseer of Unchangeable God Ministries, Awkuzu, while the other two were located at Dusogu and Ifite villages also in Awkuzu.

The officer in charge of SARS in the state, Mr. James Nwafor; Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Mr. Olafimihan Adeoye; Command’s Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka, and Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Chief Chikaodi Anara, led a high powered team to the demolition sites and the parade of the suspects.

The DCP said Pastor Nwaezeagu had generated millions of naira as kidnap proceeds and was involved in the kidnap of many wealthy Anambra men, including a priest.

According to him, “Pastor Ifeanyi Nwaezeagu is fake and was engaging in kidnapping unnoticed until he was caught in 2013.

“His confessional statements led to the exposure of his gang before Governor Obiano revoked his C of O, leading to demolition of his church and buildings.”

One of his houses was marked Ozo Igbo Ndu (life saver) suspected to be his shrine, while the church was marked ‘’Unchangeable God,” with some Biblical quotations to go with it.

An indigene of the area, Mr. Chukwuchebe Nweke, said Pastor Nwaezeagu started his church in 1999, adding that they never knew he was into kidnapping and robbery until lately when police invaded his home and the church.

 

Police parade 15 suspects

The demolition came as the Anambra State Police command paraded 15 suspected kidnappers and robbers who were caught with sophisticated arms and ammunition. They were paraded at the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) headquarters, Awkuzu.

Among the weapons displayed by the police include one rocket launcher, one rocket, 50 magazines for AK-47, 300 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, among others

Addressing newsmen in Awkuzu, the PPRO said 10 of the suspects were kidnappers, while five were robbers and car snatching syndicate members using fake number plates.

He explained that the police had been diligent and applying due process in investigating the cases and smoking out kidnappers and robbers who have been terrorizing the state.

Two of the suspects, a dismissed army officer, one Prince Ndubuisi Friday and Ifeanyichuukwu Onuchukwu confessed to the crime.

Another suspect, Oliver Ifeanyi also confirmed that he received a snatched car, even as he claimed that he did not know that it was stolen.

 

Tag(s):
 
 
Back to News