The Anambra State Government has demolished a kidnappers’ den disguised as a hotel along the Onitsha-Owerri Road.
This was made known in a statement shared on the Anambra State New Media X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday.
According to the statement, the hotel had been used as a den for kidnappers and other criminal elements.
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It disclosed shocking discoveries within the premises, including over 30 partitioned graves on the top floor of the two-story building, a shrine, live ammunition, and other incriminating items.
The statement further said, the bust was part of their ongoing crackdown on criminal hideouts in the state. The operation also led to the recovery of blood-stained items and live cartridges, which have been handed over to law enforcement authorities at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) office in Awkuzu.
In a video shared on Sunday, the team leader described the scene, saying: “We found a shrine, live ammunition, and cartridges while removing the pot used for their rituals. The pot, containing blood, has been handed over to the police as evidence.”
He continued: ”The top floor of the hotel had well-partitioned graves for over 30 individuals alongside the shrine. This was where they carried out their spiritual activities.”
The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Mr. Christian Aburime, confirmed the incident. He stated that the demolition, carried out by Agunechemba, followed an investigation linking the hotel to kidnapping operations.
“The hotel was destroyed because investigations identified it as a kidnappers’ hideout. We discovered graves, army uniforms, live cartridges, and other items. The local community had been complaining about frequent gunshots at night but were too afraid to report due to fear of reprisal,” Aburime explained.
He added that the government’s newly enacted Homeland Security Law of 2025 has empowered citizens and security agencies to act decisively against criminal elements.
“We are making significant progress in flushing out criminals from Anambra State. This drastic action is yielding positive results. More buildings linked to crimes such as kidnapping, robbery, and hired killings will be demolished, and their owners prosecuted,” he assured.
The demolition has been praised by local residents, who expressed relief and gratitude to the government for addressing the long-standing menace.