The Edo State Government has demolished a house belonging to an Italy-based Nigerian woman after her brother, Osamede Asemota, was identified as a key leader of a notorious kidnapping gang operating in the state.
The building, located on College Road, Aduwawa, Benin City, was razed by the Edo State Taskforce following Asemota's arrest and subsequent confession to multiple kidnapping operations in the area.
According to the Edo State Anti-Kidnapping Task Force, Asemota admitted to receiving N350,000 as his share from a recent kidnapping operation. He confessed to abducting a woman from her store at Ramat Park and holding her captive in a bush area along Agbor Road for two days.
The suspect revealed that his gang, comprising five members, had been responsible for several kidnappings in the Aduwawa, Eyean, and Auchi Bypass areas of Benin City. The taskforce indicated that the property owner, Asemota's sister who resides in Italy, was unaware of her brother's criminal activities.
During interrogation, Asemota expressed regret over his actions that led to the demolition of his sister's property. "We sometimes meet at this compound to plan and carry out our activities. The house belongs to my sister, who lives in Italy. I stay alone here, and I feel very sad and confused about this development," he lamented.
"I don't know how she will feel about hearing this because she has been supportive of me, sending me money and other things. I feel really bad that I had to involve her property this way," he added.
In a related development, the taskforce also apprehended Michael Tare from Delta State for alleged kidnapping. Tare reportedly confessed to receiving N1 million as his share from a ransom payment. According to authorities, the suspect admitted he returned to Benin City due to greed, which ultimately led to his arrest.
The demolition is part of ongoing efforts by the Edo State Government to combat kidnapping and other criminal activities in the state by targeting properties used for planning or executing such operations.
