News
Enugu State Gov’t Explains Demolition of Illegal Structure, Criminal Hideout
Report by SANDRA ANI
- Vows to protect investors’ interest, rights
- Police arrest suspected kidnappers, recover 8 riffles, surveillance gadgets
The Enugu State government has refuted trending videos of alleged indiscriminate demolition of properties at the Enugu Lifestyle and Golf City, also known as Enugu Centenary City, saying it only demolished illegal and uncompleted structures, among them buildings, which served as kidnappers’ hideout, stressing that it was yet to demolish any of the unapproved but completed and or occupied properties in the area.
The government said the action of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA) in collaboration with security agencies underscored its commitment to the security of lives and property and protection of investments and contracts with investors.
This was even as the Enugu State Police Command announced the arrest of three suspected kidnappers and recovery of arms and ammunitions following a tip-off by ECTDA.
The Commissioner for Information, Enugu State, Mr. Aka Eze Aka, and Uche Anya, the executive chairman, ECTDA, made this known while conducting reporters around the demolished structures located deep in the forest of the Centenary City located at Obeagu/Amechi Akwunanaw in Enugu South LGA.
Speaking to reporters, Eze said:
“What we saw in the trending video today was an attempt by the originators to demarket Enugu State as an investment destination for Real Estate development. But in reality the operation by ECTDA and the security agencies was a testament that government is resolved to rid the state of criminal elements and protect property rights and investments in the state.
“In this instance, you are all aware of the distance we travelled from the city to get to this place. The culprits did not only erect the structures without any title and approval, they got inside this place pretending to be a block industry, whereas as you can see, they were into nefarious activities.”
On the allegations made by a content creator on the social media, the Commissioner said:
“When the person, who was on the video began to talk about trying to destroy his house and so on, it is important to state that not one single building that has been earmarked for demolition was touched because we also have a human feeling to allow these houses for them to be regularised. They just went about to recycle old videos where some properties were destroyed by past administrations.
“It is also funny that the young man has been brandishing a mere Deed, which cannot be an approval to build.”
We won’t succumb to blackmail – ECTDA
Uche Anya, the ECTDA Chairman, however, said the agency would not “succumb to blackmail, including recycling and trending of videos of past demolitions.”
“It is apposite to state that the action of the ECTDA in Centenary City is Rule of Law at work.
“The ECTDA Law prohibits carrying out any development or municipal service within the Capital Territory without the written approval of the Authority. For the avoidance of doubts, Section 13 (1) of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority Law, 2009, provides: ‘Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, as from the commencement of this Law, no person or body shall carry out any development or municipal service within the Capital Territory, unless such development or municipal service has been approved in writing by the Authority.’
“However, whereas the current ECTDA leadership is determined to stop unauthorised developments and carry on with the urban masterplan restoration and renewal process, including those initiated by successive administrations, we took the initiative to mark the affected properties in October 2023, issuing notices that should accord the developers a window to regularise their titles/properties, if any.
“For emphasis, even though the notices had since expired, no unapproved but completed or occupied building was demolished during the exercise by ECTDA. We are still calling on the developers to do the right thing.
“Meanwhile, it is to be made clear that the ECTDA operation of Friday, January 19, was based on an intelligence report about an illegal development/property that served as kidnappers’ den at the Centenary City. In the course of our due diligence, we also found out that the property, like many others at Centenary City, had no title or approval from the appropriate authorities.
“Although the building was not fully completed, the criminals had already mounted sophisticated surveillance equipment such as CCTV cameras, PTZ cameras, in addition to about two dozens of mobile phones denoting the dangerous level of sophistication.
“As some of the videos already in public domain clearly shows, we made some chilling discoveries on storming the property with security operatives, including several guns and suspected kidnappers, whom the security agents were able to apprehend.
Police arrest suspected kidnappers
Meanwhile, the Enugu State Police Command says it arrested three kidnap suspects and recovered arms at the demolished property.
A statement by its spokesman, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, on Saturday, read: “Acting on credible information made by ECTDA), Enugu State Police Command’s Operatives serving in Enugu Area Command raided a criminal hideout in the Centenary City area of Obeagu/Awkunanaw community in Enugu South LGA on Friday, January 19, 2024.
“The operational exercise led to the arrest of three male suspects, namely: Emmanuel Nwabundo aged 39, Emmanuel Eze aged 35, and Anthony Onoche George aged 30, while others escaped. Eight (8) pump action guns with four (4) live and twenty-six (26) expended cartridges were recovered.
“Other exhibits recovered include one (1) machete, four (4) units of solar-powered CCTV cameras, thirteen (13) assorted phones, one (1) DVD player, and four (4) bags and clothes, all suspected to be stolen. Also recovered are objects suspected to be charms.
“A preliminary investigation conducted reveals that the criminal elements and cohorts at large have been using the location as a hideout for the design and consequent perfection of their criminal activities, including arm d robbery, kidnapping, among other crimes, within Enugu metropolis and environs.
“The suspects shall be arraigned in court once investigations are concluded.”
He quoted the Commissioner of Police, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu, as calling on the citizenry to “avail the Police of credible and actionable security information.”
News
King Charles Reportedly “Really Unwell” And Funeral Plans Are Currently Being Reviewed
King Charles III’s health is causing concern for friends and the palace as he continues to battle cancer.
“Speaking to friends of the king in recent weeks about his health, the most common response is … ‘It’s not good,’” Tom Sykes of the Daily Beast reported Thursday, April 25.
A friend of the monarch claimed Charles “is determined to beat it and they are throwing everything at it,” adding, “Everyone is staying optimistic, but he is really very unwell. More than they are letting on.”
Royal writer Tina Brown also hinted at the monarch’s health struggles, writing recently that Charles’ cancer has put Prince William and Kate Middleton “in frightening proximity to ascending the throne just when they had hoped for a span of years to parent their children out of the public eye.”
“The prospect of it, I am told, is causing them intense anxiety.”
Sykes also reported that the king’s funeral plans, codenamed “Operation Menai Bridge”, are currently being reviewed.
A separate document that states what went well at Queen Elizabeth’s September 2022 funeral and what could be done better the next time a monarch dies is also circulating, according to the Daily Beast.
All the sources emphasized that royal funeral plans are constantly in review. However, one former staffer in particular conceded that Charles’ health woes have given his plans a different urgency.
“The plans have been dusted off and are actively being kept up to date,” the former staffer explained.
“It’s no more than what you would expect given the king has been diagnosed with cancer. But the circulation of them has certainly focused minds.”
Buckingham Palace announced in February that after undergoing surgery for a benign prostate enlargement, it was discovered that the king has cancer.
We hope the king gets well soon.
News
EFCC: New Documents Extracted Shows Yahaya Bello Allegedly Paid School Fees To The Tune Of $845,852,84 For His Family Members
Still on the EFCC trailing on Ex Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, Documents serving as exhibits have shown how he allegedly paid school fees in advance for his family members already in the school and even those to be enrolled in future with hundreds of thousands of dollars withdrawn from the state coffers.
A letter from the American International School of Abuja to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has shown the school admitting that Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, paid $845,852,84 into their bank account since September 2021 as advance school fees for 4 family members from the present class until they graduate.
Payment was also made for any future student to be enrolled by the family.
The document alleges that the payment was made by Mr. Ali Bello, alleged to be the eldest son of Yahaya Bello.
In the document, the school stated that they have deducted the fees for the educational service already rendered to the Bello children in the institution and what is left is $760, 910, which would be refunded to an account provided by the EFCC as the commission continues investigation into alleged money laundering levelled against Yahaya Bello.
The school also added that from the Bello family kids, “no further additional fees are expected in respect of tuition until they graduate from ASIA.”
News
Niger State Prisoners Run From Facility After Rainstorm Brings Down Part Of Fencing
Many prisoners serving time at the Suleja Correctional Centre, located in Suleja Local Government of Niger state, fled the facility after a rainstorm brought down a part of the inner fencing.
This incident happened as a result of the heavy rainfall which fell on Wednesday night. This led to a cell being torn down, providing incarcerated individuals with a chance at freedom.
Reporters gathered that security forces fired many shots in the air, attempting to scare the inmates out of hiding.
While the State Comptroller of Prisons declined to speak to the press, it has been noted that security has been beefed up on the Minna-Suleja and Suleja-Kaduna roads, including the Madalla axis to Abuja road, which is a likely escape route out of the state for the inmates.
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