Ododo Orders Demolition Of Notorious Criminal Hideout

The Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Usman Ododo, on Thursday ordered the demolition of a structure popularly known as Sambel Joint in Idoji, Okene Local Government Area, over reports linking the facility to criminal activities.

The demolition exercise came hours after the Kogi State Government invalidated all illegally acquired properties across the state.

The statement warned that any property found to have been unlawfully acquired or used for criminal purposes would be reclaimed by the government, while those involved would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

In line with this directive, properties located at GP. 23A, 23B, 24A and 24B, Government Quarters, Idoji, Okene, bearing Certificate of Occupancy Number KG. 13958, were invalidated and subsequently demolished after investigations confirmed that they were illegally acquired and being used as hideouts for criminal elements.

It noted that the properties violated provisions of the Kogi State Land Administration Law and the Anti-Kidnapping Law, having been unlawfully occupied and converted into operational bases for criminal activities.

The action followed sustained surveillance and intelligence gathering, which revealed that the location had become a haven for criminals, posing serious security threats to residents and commuters within the area.

Speaking during the demolition exercise, Governor Ododo reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state, stressing that security remains his foremost responsibility.
“We are here to carry out an action that is in the best interest of our people. What I have sworn in to do is to protect the lives and livelihoods of my people, and as such, I will always work to secure my people,” the governor said.

Governor Ododo recalled that in a proclamation made in December, his administration had made it clear that any property found to be harbouring criminals would be demolished, while all occupants and collaborators would be prosecuted.

“This is not new. We already made it clear that any house being used to harbour criminals will go down. These are proactive measures to curb criminality in Kogi State,” he said.

The governor also expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for his continued support in strengthening security across Kogi State.

Ododo said, “I sincerely appreciate my leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the support he is giving us and for the service he is rendering to ensure that our state is secured from criminal activities that some of our people unfortunately encourage”.

According to the governor, investigations revealed that the demolished properties originally belonged to the government but were illegally taken over and converted into criminal operational bases.

“This demolition you are seeing here today is to give our people the needed security they deserve. We discovered that criminals have taken over this property, and when we realised that their activities were giving our people unrest, we had to take a bold decision,” he explained.

He issuing a stern warning to criminals and their collaborators, and vowed that his administration would show zero tolerance for crime in any part of the state.

“I will never negotiate with any criminal. We will take the fight to them anywhere they are. If you harbour criminals, your house will go down. If you keep criminals, your house will go down,” he warned.

He emphasised that the operation was aimed at restoring peace and ensuring residents can live without fear.

“We are here to carry out this exercise so that our people can sleep with both of their eyes closed,” the governor added.

Security officials revealed that the demolished location had been under close monitoring following repeated complaints from residents about suspicious movements, the influx of unknown persons, and activities capable of breaching public peace.

Residents of the Idoji community commended the governor’s swift intervention, and described the demolition as bold and timely.

One of the residents, Mallam Raji Sanni, told journalists that the structure had long served as a haven for criminals terrorising the area, while praising the governor for liberating the community from the nefarious activities of the hoodlums.

Governor Ododo reiterated that Kogi State will not serve as a haven for criminals, stressing that peace and security remain central to his administration’s development agenda.