The Edo State Task Force has demolished a residential property on College Road, Aduwawa, Benin City, identified as a meeting point for a notorious kidnapping gang operating in the area.
The building, reportedly owned by a woman currently residing in Italy, was linked to the alleged criminal activities of her younger brother, Osamede Asemota, who has been arrested and is currently in custody.
Asemota confessed to being part of a five-man gang responsible for multiple kidnappings across the Aduwawa, Eyan, and Auchi Bypass areas of Benin City. In a detailed account, he revealed that his most recent operation involved abducting a woman from her shop at Ramat Park and holding her in captivity in a bush near Agbor Road. He said he was paid N350,000 as his share of the ransom, while the gang demanded a total of N8 million and later an additional N3 million, threatening the victim with another abduction.
According to the police, during questioning, Asemota admitted to using the demolished property as a base of operations for the gang. He expressed remorse over the implications of his actions on his sister, who he said had been supportive of him from abroad. “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. I don’t know how she will feel 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 said.
Another suspect, Michael Tare from Delta State, was also arrested in connection with the same kidnapping operation. The police said Tare admitted to receiving N1 million as his share of the ransom but was apprehended after returning to Benin due to what he described as greed.
The demolition of the property, according to officials, was a deliberate step to discourage the use of residential properties for criminal purposes. Authorities say it underscores the state government’s zero-tolerance approach to insecurity and sends a clear message that assets used in the commission of crimes will not be spared, regardless of ownership.
The Edo State government reiterated its commitment to eradicating criminal elements through sustained enforcement and community collaboration. The task force’s actions are part of ongoing efforts to dismantle kidnapping networks and restore safety across the state. Officials have urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security agencies.
This latest operation follows a series of arrests and prosecutions that have bolstered public confidence in the state’s security initiatives. The government has emphasized that the fight against kidnapping and other violent crimes will continue with urgency and resolve.
