Gov Bello demolishes Boko Haram mosque, kidnappers’ property

Alarmed by the activities of terrorists and kidnappers in the state, Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, Wednesday, stormed some property in Okene Local Government Area of the state and got them demolished as a demonstration of his administration’s determination to rid the state of criminals. Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State Governor Bello, who was accompanied by the State Police Commissioner, Mr. Wilson Inalegwu and heads of other security agencies, particularly demolished buildings used by suspected kidnappers, Boko Haram terrorists and armed robbers in Okene in the Central Senatorial District of the state. The two buildings brought down yesterday belonged to a suspected kidnap kingpin popularly known as Alhaji Tijani Bakare in Oyunkoko Ward in Okene while the second building levelled to the ground by the machines was the notorious Ahlul-Sunnah Mosque in Inike, Okene LGA which was reportedly hijacked in 2015 by members of the Boko Haram terrorist group and has been serving as an operational base for their nefarious activities. The Governor said he had no sympathy for anyone engaging in heinous acts, as he would implement to the letter the law against anti-kidnapping, robbery and terrorism. He said however is found culpable by the law would be made to face the full weight of the law without fear or favour. “For those who are in the habit of harbouring criminals in their houses, we will fish them out and mete out serious punishment to them as if they are criminals themselves,” the governor warned. The governor warned that more property of criminals would be demolished as they are identified by the security agencies to serve as a deterrent to potential criminals and hoodlums. Kogi State Police Commissioner, Mr Wilson Inalegwu, said it would no longer be business as usual for criminal elements operating in any part of the state, saying the action was to send a strong message to kidnappers and hoodlums that they must change their ways. Inalegwu said, “They should work hard and earn a decent living. We want to make Kogi safe so that those living here or travelling through Kogi will not have fear of being kidnapped.”