The Edo State Government has demolished a property linked to a notorious kidnapping gang operating in Benin City.
The property, owned by an Italy-based woman was allegedly being used by her younger brother, Osamede Asemota, a key leader of the gang, as a hideout and planning base.
The demolition, carried out by the State Task Force followed the arrest of Asemota, who confessed to his involvement in several kidnapping operations in Benin City.
Despite the sister being unaware of her brother’s criminal activities, the government proceeded with the demolition as part of its zero-tolerance approach to crime.
Asemota, currently in custody, admitted that his last kidnapping operation earned him N350,000 after abducting a woman from her shop at Ramat Park in Benin City.
“We kidnapped the woman in her shop at Ramat Park and took her to the bush around Agbor Park. I stayed with her in the bush for two days, while my friends later brought me my share of the ransom,” he confessed.
He further disclosed that the five-member gang was behind several abductions in the Aduwawa, Eyaen, and Auchi Bypass areas.
The suspect expressed regret over the use of his sister’s property, stating, “I feel very sad and confused about this. I don’t know how she will feel hearing this because she has been supportive of me. I feel really bad that I had to involve her property this way.”
In a related development, another gang member, Michael Tare, confessed to receiving N1 million as his share from the same kidnap.
Tare revealed that after fleeing to Delta State with his share, he returned to Benin City out of greed, which eventually led to his arrest.
It was also gathered that the gang initially demanded N8 million in ransom from the kidnapped woman but later increased the demand by an additional N3 million, threatening to abduct the victim again if she failed to comply.