Abia govt goes tough on kidnappers, demolishes kingpin's house

The Abia State Government has demolished a bungalow building belonging to one Ogbonna Ogbuonye due to his alleged involvement in kidnapping activities in the state.

Briefing journalists after the demolition, the Security Adviser to Governor Theodore Orji, Captain Awa Udonsi Agwu (retd.), said the measure was to serve as a deterrent to other kidnappers and those nursing the idea of entering the illicit business.

According to him, the alleged ringleader of the gang that masterminded the abduction of the Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers, Chief Sunny Nwakodo, was killed last Sunday morning during a shootout with security operatives who later rescued the victim unhurt.

The slain culprit, he said, was also alleged to be the mastermind of the killing penultimate week of the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Ken Nwosu, who died in a hospital as a result of gunshot wounds.

Two other members of the gang were also killed during the gun duel which took place in a bush at Ikwuano.

The demolished bungalow was located at Umuariaga, Oboro in Ikwuano Local Government area of the state.

He said the state government abhorred kidnapping and would stop at nothing to stamp the menace out of the state.