Bulldozers pull down the suspect’s twin apartments
Niger State Government demolishes home of kidnapper of UniAbuja lecturers
The Niger State government has demolished twin flats belonging to one Muhammed Amodu, a 35-year-old suspected kidnap kingpin alleged to be responsible for the recent abductions at the University of Abuja where two professors and four other members of staff were kidnapped from the staff quarters.
The suspect also reportedly confessed that he had participated in about five kidnappings, and used the proceeds to buy the house in Yikangbe, a suburb of Minna, the state capital.
One of the flats was said to have been occupied by the suspect and his family members, while the other flat was yet to be completed.
It was unclear if the government secured a court order to demolish the building, especially since the suspect has not yet been convicted.
Confirming the incident, Emmanuel Umar, Niger State Commissioner for Local Government, said the suspect’s confession led to the arrest of other suspects and rescue of the victims.
Umar said that the decision to demolish was taken following an expanded security meeting between the government, security chiefs, and traditional rulers.
The Commissioner also said that the meeting involved community leaders, hoteliers, and landlords who have been encouraged to report any suspicious movement within their neighbourhood.
It would be recalled that residents of the state, including hundreds of school students, have suffered numerous incidents of abductions over the past year.
The State Governor, Abubakar Bello had also recently raised the alarm over the alleged presence of some Boko Haram terrorists in Shiroro, Munya, and Rafi local government areas of the state.
