Anambra State’s newly launched security force, Agunechemba, also known as Operation Udo Ga-Achị, has busted a kidnap gang.
The force raided the kidnappers’ hideouts in Isiagu, Awka South Local Government Area amid the fight against crime in the state.
Several video clips seen on Monday, which had gone viral on social media, show Agunechemba operatives with a bulldozer demolishing two houses allegedly used by kidnappers to keep their victims until ransoms are paid.
According to a voice overheard in one of the videos, the two houses separated by a perimeter fence, were used by kidnappers to keep their hostages.
It was gathered that the houses were demolished on Sunday in Isiagu community, in the Awka South Local Government Area of the state.
A leader of the group, who spoke in Igbo in one of the video clips, claimed that the landlords or owners of the buildings were aware that their properties were being used for illegal activities, including holding kidnapped victims.
He said, “Happy Sunday to everybody. Where we are now is Isiagu in Awka South LGA. If you look around me, you will see operatives of Operation Udo Ga-Achị, security outfit of Anambra state, Agunechemba. We are here on the authority of the governor of Anambra state, Charles Chukwuma Soludo.
“We are here to show that what our governor said is what is being done. Our governor has determined that Anambra must be well again. Our governor has said that he doesn’t want armed robbery, kidnapping, hard drugs, among others including those who are fake native doctors.
“One of the reasons why we are here today… if you look, where we are is Isiagu and these two compounds and houses you are seeing is where the kidnappers are hiding and keeping their hostages. The operatives of the Operation Udo Ga-Achị have arrested some of them and through their confessional statements, discovered that these houses are where they keep their victims.
“And like the law of Anambra state has stated that where the kidnappers are using to keep their victims, the place has become the property of the state. Therefore, the two compounds where the kidnappers have been using for hostage keeping have now become the property of Anambra state government.
“And following the testimonies of the victims that were kept in these houses, the landlord of the houses knew about the incident. Again, the said landlords have never reported to the traditional ruler of the community, the president general of the community or even reported to the local government and the state, claiming that they were not involved in what was going, which shows that they were part of the kidnapping business.
“We have also recovered items that show that both houses were used to keep hostages. In one of the compounds, a mask was recovered among other things recovered before now. So, we are here today to take possession of the property as directed by the governor and the chief security officer of the state. The properties now belong to Anambra because the owners knew that their property were being used for kidnapping.”
“Everybody should know their neighbour and know what they do for a living. And like our government promised yesterday that if you give credible information that will lead to the arrest of kidnapper(s), you stand a chance to get a financial reward of N5 million,” the voice added.
The demolition of the hideouts is in line with Governor Soludo’s declaration and the newly signed Anambra State Homeland Security Law 2025, which states that any house used as a hideout for criminal activities will be forfeited and demolished by the state government.
