Governor Monday Okpebholo personally oversaw the recent demolition of a property in Ogheghe, a community on the outskirts of Benin City. According to officials, the building was linked to kidnapping and internet fraud, with reports suggesting that victims were held captive and subjected to ritual practices. Authorities claimed that human remains, fetish objects, and personal items belonging to victims were discovered at the site.

The governor, visibly troubled by the findings, condemned the activities allegedly conducted in the building. “Children were kidnapped and kept here for years. This kind of evil is unacceptable in Edo State,” Okpebholo said during the demolition exercise. He vowed to continue targeting structures associated with cultism, kidnapping, and ritual crimes, declaring that there would be “no sanctuary for criminals in Edo State.”

As part of the same operation, another building in the Amagba area of Benin was also demolished. The structure was reportedly used by a secret cult group and contained multiple rooms, a hall, and office-like spaces believed to have supported organized illegal activities.

The demolition exercise is being carried out under a newly signed anti-cultism law, which empowers the state government to act against properties connected to criminal enterprises. Governor Okpebholo’s administration has emphasized that the demolitions are both a legal and moral imperative to safeguard public safety.

Still, the policy has drawn criticism from some who argue that the destruction of physical assets may be excessive or irreversible, especially in cases where future evidence may cast doubt on the initial justification for demolition. Critics also suggest that such properties could be repurposed for public use rather than destroyed.

Supporters of the policy, however, maintain that demolishing the buildings sends a strong message that crime will not be tolerated and that assets linked to criminality should not be preserved or returned under political influence.

Legal experts note that while the demolitions are sanctioned by law, affected property owners have the right to challenge the action in court. If a court finds the demolition to be unjust or unlawful, compensation may be awarded.

In a follow-up measure, Governor Okpebholo announced that the land where the Ogheghe building once stood will be used to construct a police station, further reinforcing the government’s commitment to enhancing public safety and rule of law.

This latest move aligns Edo State with other Nigerian states—such as Anambra, Ekiti, and Enugu—that have taken similar hardline stances against criminal hideouts in recent years.

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The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has announced the creation of a Special Task Force aimed at eradicating criminal elements hiding in uncompleted structures, abandoned plots, and buildings across the FCT.

Mr. Adamu Gwary, the Director of the Department of Security Services, FCT Administration, made this known during an interview with our source in Abuja on Wednesday. He explained that the initiative seeks to curb the activities of miscreants who are responsible for vandalizing government infrastructure and other criminal activities.

Gwary further clarified that these locations have been identified by the FCT Security Committee as hotspots for criminal activities. The Commissioner of Police in the FCT has been tasked with coordinating efforts with his colleagues to form a task team specifically focused on this issue.

The Special Task Force has already presented a financial plan to the minister for its operation, which will target several identified locations, including Pantaker markets. Gwary assured that the operation would cover other areas pinpointed through intelligence reports as criminal hideouts.

“In the next two to three weeks, we will take strategic actions to clear all criminal hideouts in the FCT, including uncompleted buildings, abandoned plots, and other areas used by criminals,” Gwary stated.

The initiative also includes addressing the issue of undeveloped plots of land. Gwary revealed that the FCTA Land Department is conducting a census of all undeveloped plots, in line with the minister’s directive. Wike had earlier warned owners of these plots to either develop them or risk having their allocations revoked. This move is expected to reduce security concerns related to vacant lands, which often serve as hiding spots for criminals.

Additionally, Gwary highlighted that Wike had instructed the acting Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to propose measures to secure all under-bridge areas across the FCT. The aim is to prevent miscreants from using these spaces as hideouts.

“This directive is in line with the minister’s broader plan to improve security in the FCT and ensure a safer environment for all residents,” Gwary concluded.

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