The building where four kidnapped victims were rescued in Osokwa, Osisioma Ngwa LGA of Abia State is to be immediately demolished by the Abia State government, while the landlord is to be arrested.
Governor Alex Otti gave the order on Saturday at the Government House, Umuahia while briefing journalists.
While commending the Nigeria Police for a good job of neutralizing six kidnappers with zero injury to the four rescued victims, he said the traditional ruler in whose domain the crime took place would be invited by the State government to come and explain why nobody in his community reported the strange presence of criminals in their land.
“I will also instruct the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to invite the traditional ruler of the area where the kidnappers operated from and had a safe heaven for a chat and questioning because it is strange that no one reported such movement in such small community to the law enforcement agencies,” he said.
The Governor lamented how two persons were recently killed in Ukwa East area of the State by kidnappers who he said also took one abducted victim to unknown place.
Presenting the rescued victims and the tactical team members of the Nigeria Police, the Commissioner of Police, Abia State Command, CP. Danladi Isa said they were kidnapped on 9/03/2025 along new Umuahia Road in Obingwa LGA but rescued on 14/03/2025 at Osokwa, Osisioma LGA.
Meanwhile, the rescued victims have said that before they were rescued by the Police, they heard the voices of people, including children in the compound where they were kept
“We were kept in a room without any ventilation; a very small room. There was no window.
“We were there for like five days. So, they collected the phone numbers of our family members who they were contacting to get ransom,” one of them said.