EDSG Demolishes House Of Alleged Kidnapper Who Received N800,000 Ransom

By Idahosa Musa

Uromi – Edo State Government on Wednesday demolished the house said to have been inherited by one Oboh Odianosen, ‘m’, following his alleged involvement in kidnapping activities in Uromi, Esan North-East Local Government Area of the state.

The suspect who hails from Uromi, the administrative Headquarters of Esan North-East Local Government Area of the State, was said to have received N800,000 ( eight hundred thousand Naira) from the N5,000,000.00 ( five million Naira) ransom paid to his 5-man kidnapping gang.

Speaking with newsmen before the demolition exercise, the suspect, Mr. Oboh claimed he received the N800,000 recently as proceeds from his last mission.

He said in an informal language: “My name na Odianosen Oboh. Na my house be this. My papa build am, but I finish the house. Na my friend Palmer I follow, we carry one man from Ekpoma, as we carry am, the car when we use spoil.

“I come use my bike carry am. We carry am go inside bush for Uromi, we spend three days inside bush before them pay us N5 million. Na five of us do the job and them give me N800,000. I use the money pay some kind debts when I owe before.”

On how he was arrested, the suspect revealed that: “Na Palmer when them hold confess me, and them come pick me.

“Now them wan break my house, my papa house because of N800,000. My family no go get house again. My children dey outside now. Any body that see crime should run from crime”, he advised

Speaking to newsmen, the Special Adviser to the State Governor on Security Affairs, Mr. Akhere Paul, who supervised the demolition exercise, said that the state government is committed to stamping out crime and criminality related activities from Edo.

While maintaining that Governor Monday Okpebholo has zero tolerance for criminal elements, hence his stance of no peace for the wicked in Edo, Paul warmed that those still involve in kidnapping would soon be caught up by the law.

“Those ones still kidnapping should know government will not stop. Your time will come, and we will come for you. We will chase them, continue to chase them and we will continue to bring their houses down”, he warned.

On his part, the Commander, Edo State Task Force Committee, SP Michael Anetor, explained that they decided to enforce the state law after the confession of the suspect.

“This guy called Oboh is a kidnapper. He has confessed to the crime. I personally interviewed him, and he told me he has only followed them (his gang) once, with the guy called Palmer, who we have also demolished his house.

“I am advising those who are watching what is going on now, and still have intentions to commit crime, the Governor is not going to rest, and we at the Task Force, are ready to work round the clock until they stop kidnapping in Edo State’, he vowed.

It would be recalled that the Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA), on February 18, 2025, passed the State Kidnapping Prohibition Law 2025 and approved death sentence for offenders

The House Majority Leader, Hon. Charity Aiguobarueghian, moved the motion for the house to dissolve into the committee of the whole to consider the bill clause-by-clause.

The motion was seconded by the Minority Leader, Henry Okaka, member representing Owan East.

Considering the bill clause-by-clause, the lawmakers amended the existing law 2013, which had provided life imprisonment and confiscation of property allegedly used for kidnapping

The lawmakers, however, amended the law to provide stiffer penalty of death sentence and confiscation of property used in the act.

To stem the tide of kidnapping in the state, the state government declared war on kidnappers and individuals aiding them by ensuring that their houses are demolished.

True to its threat, the state government on March 5, 2025 carried out the demolition of houses linked to suspected kidnappers in Illeh village in Ekpoma and Uromi, Esan West and Esan North-East Local Government Areas in the state.

Speaking with newsmen, the suspects, Utubor Uchenna and Felix Ebama, who claimed to have belonged to a gang of seven, identified the properties as their hideout before the demolition.

Admitting to the crime, they said they had been involved in high profile kidnapping within Edo Central axis with the last operation fetching them N10 million.

The leader of the gang, Utubor Uchenna, noted that their last victim was marked because of the kind of luxury car he drives and was kidnapped alongside a lady. He said both victims were released unhurt after parting with a ransom of 10 million naira.

Two days later, a building belonging to a Septuagenarian and alleged kidnapping informant, Mr. Karimu Audi in Eshioriri-Erah, Owan East Local Government Area in Edo State was brought down by the state government.

The suspect was alleged to have not only provided information to suspected kidnappers, but also hosted them overnight, and supplied them with food.

Addressing journalists at the demolition scene, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Affairs, Mr. Akhere Paul, emphasized the state government’s zero tolerance for complicity in kidnapping.

“We are here because of conspiracy. He (Audu) has been working with kidnappers in the forest. Let this serve as a warning to everyone—if you see something, say something.

“If you conspire with criminals, your day will come, just like today has come for him to face the law”, he said

However, Mr. Audu denied the allegations, insisting that his dealings with herders were legitimate and in line with his role within the community.

“They said I give information to the ‘Fulani.’ I don’t. I am the chairman of a six-man community committee.

“My job is to collect annual payments and bring them to the Highness for sharing. I don’t give information to anyone; I simply do my committee work”, he said.

Eshioriri-Erah, a border community between Owan East and Esan West local government areas, is known for its vast forest connecting Edo North and Edo Central Senatorial Districts, a terrain often exploited by criminal elements.