The Enugu State Government, on Tuesday, demolished yet another building used for kidnapping in the state, an action it said is in line with the laws of the state.

Security agencies had, during the week, rescued a kidnap victim at the demolished property, a bungalow at Umueze Awkunanaw in Nkanu West LGA of the state, used by the prime suspect, Igwenagu Ogbodo, and his gang for holding victims captive.

Ogbodo and some of his gang members, however, escaped with various degrees of gunshot wounds when security agencies stormed the property.

Speaking to newsmen during the demolition, the Council Chairman of Nkanu West LGA, Hon. John Ogbodo, commended Governor Mbah for consistently demonstrating political will in the war against insecurity.

“The prime suspect and his gang kidnapped the person and brought him here. He was rescued and his vehicle recovered. Some arms and ammunition were equally recovered.

READ ALSO:Enugu Court Remands Ritualist, Two Others, For Kidnapping, Murder

“I thank His Excellency, Dr Peter Mbah, for his political will and demonstration of capacity in line with what he told Ndi Enugu that any house that harbours criminals or is used to aid criminality will be demolished. That is exactly what is happening here today and it is in line with the laws of Enugu State”.

“This is not the first house to be demolished in Enugu by this administration, neither is it the second nor the third. But this is the first one to be demolished in Nkanu West, and I know this is going to be a deterrent to other criminal elements.

“I urge every community and Presidents-General to be very mindful of people around them. They should keep an eye on the people and report any suspicious movement to security agencies.

“Again, I want to use this opportunity to advise anyone who has a property in Enugu State to be mindful of his or her tenants and any activities ongoing in their property. This is because any house used to harbour criminality like kidnap victims stands demolished,” he stated.

He said the demolition would serve as a deterrent to the remaining criminals in the state, as there was no hiding place for them given the level of technology and manpower deployed by the governor to stamp out insecurity and criminality from Enugu State.

READ ALSO:Man Jailed Seven Years For N11.4m Enugu Land Fraud

The guy who did this is still on the run, but I k “now that Enugu State Government has the capacity and the equipment to capture him.

“Others who are into criminality should know that there is no hiding place in Enugu State of today because the arm of the government will catch up with them,” he concluded.

Some community members who witnessed the demolition testified to the suspect’s criminal ways and antecedents, noting that he was an ex-convict.

Ikechukwu Amos, who spoke to newsmen, said: “I can’t deny it, he is a criminal. I am their elder and I know how all of them behave. We have been advising him, but he refused. You have seen the resultant effect of his unholy character.

“This same boy returned from prison not too long ago. Since then, he has been maintaining bad company, using this place for all manner of illicit activities like smoking Indian hemp and other hard substances. I am not surprised that something of this nature will happen, and it has happened.”

READ ALSO:Enugu To Regulate Native Doctors, Herbalists

Another indigene of Umueze Awkunanaw, Edeh Chidera Kingsley, also spoke about the prime suspect’s criminal records: “Any young man who doesn’t want to work to get money but chooses kidnapping should face the music.

“Fela, as he is also known, is a lazy man. If you call him for work, he would say that he would not go. He finds pleasure in drinking.”

The Councilor of the ward, Uchenna Jideofor, thanked the governor for putting into effect the harsh measures prescribed by the laws of Enugu State against kidnapping, describing the demolition as a welcome development for the people and leaders of Umueze Awkunanaw.

“The guy is notorious in criminal activities. In my first tenure, I made sure that some of them were remanded in prison, but after everything he was later released by some people from the community. And any time they come back, people will be witnessing insecurity in the community. The guy is involved in so many things.

“This morning, I had a confrontation with the neighbours, telling them that they are not doing us good by not giving us information on what is happening. But what is happening here now will serve as a lesson to others that have chosen the fast lane,” he said.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has launched a new digital platform that will make its drug integrity test and visa clearance process seamless, more accessible, and help curb the scourge of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.

The portal was unveiled at a press conference to flag off the digitisation of the agency’s Drug Integrity Test and Visa E-Administration System (DITViCAS) yesterday in Abuja.

Speaking at the forum, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), said the symbolic launch signifies “a paradigm shift in the fight against the scourge of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.” He said it was a moment where enforcement meets efficiency, and commitment merges with cutting-edge technology.

Represented by the agency’s Secretary, Shadrach Haruna, he said in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the agency has maintained an aggressive, balanced, and uncompromising approach to tackling the scourge of illicit substances, with a focus on two critical fronts: drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction.

READ ALSO:NDLEA Intercepts 174 Parcels Of Cocaine Hidden In Body Cream Containers

“For years, the process of obtaining an NDLEA visa clearance certificate, required by certain source and transit countries, has been characterised by documentation, physical appearances, and lengthy verification cycles. This manual process was no doubt prone to human interference, delays, and a host of other issues. We are bringing an end to those bottlenecks. The system delivers automation across all processes and operations associated with the administration of the drug integrity test and visa clearance, with interfaces for effective collaboration with partner agencies,” he said.

He added: “It is also important to note that we have made provision on the system for private medical centres to partner with the agency as accredited centres for the drug integrity test. The system brings efficiency, flexibility, and convenience to the process. Following this ceremony, applicants for the drug integrity test and visa clearance can now apply from home and choose any preferred location, booking a date convenient and available for both the applicant and the desk officer of the NDLEA, without having to go and wait the whole day at the NDLEA office.

“With the e-certification and verification system, it also eliminates drug and visa clearance certificate falsifications and establishes the reliability and transparency of the process with supervisory dashboards across our commands, formations, and at the headquarters.”

The extension of the service to students of tertiary institutions and others, he said, is to significantly foster drug demand reduction across the country without any attempt to stigmatise any student or anyone, while rehabilitation and counsellingcentres are open for those who test positive to ensure that no one is left without care.

READ ALSO:NDLEA Arrests Lady Smuggling Drugs Inside Butt Pads, Phone Chargers

The NDLEA boss further explained that the essence of the platform is to integrate sophisticated background check protocols, ensuring that the certificate remains a robust security instrument that safeguards Nigeria’s international reputation and prevents drug syndicates from exploiting legitimate travel channels.

He said: “This new digital portal allows institutions, organisations, and individuals, including parents and prospective couples, to apply for drug integrity tests seamlessly. It provides a verified, standardised, and secure process for testing and issuing certificates.

“It is a non-judgmental pathway designed to support our national drive for Demand Reduction, fostering healthier communities, safer workplaces, and a more secure national labour force. This is the future of our War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign: proactive, compassionate, and data-driven.”

Nigerians can now verify the status of imported vehicles and the amount of duty payable independently via a digital platform with their Vehicle Identification Number and a verification fee of N15,000 using any locally or internationally issued debit or credit card.

Previously, Nigerians relied on intermediaries to verify vehicle status and determine the correct duty payable, which caused delay and fraud; however, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has introduced the Customs Verification Management System (CVMS), a new digital platform that streamlines the process.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, said the platform, which was unveiled in Abuja, allows Nigerians to verify the status of any imported vehicle and determine the corresponding duty payment within minutes.

Adeniyi explained that the new verification system was developed in partnership with the Trade Modernisation Project and indigenous technology firm, Afripoint Consult, to resolve long-standing challenges associated with vehicle clearance and documentation.

READ ALSO:Customs Intercepts N5.1b Illicit Drugs From India, Canada At Lagos Airport

He said for years, verification of imported vehicles relied on fragmented and outdated methods, systems that left room for misinformation, fraud and revenue leakage, costing the country significantly.

Adeniyi explained that the platform would provide a centralised digital system where vehicle records can be traced, verified and confirmed within minutes, while improving the efficiency of Customs enforcement units, the federal operations units, and other relevant arms of the Service.

“With CVMS, we are introducing a simple, seamless, and secure way to verify vehicle duty payment status,” Adeniyi said.

READ ALSO:10 Things Candidates Should Know About Customs Recruitment CBT Exams

According to him, the digital platform, which has been in trial mode for about two months, is now fully operational and can be accessed from anywhere in the world.

“Nigerians can verify vehicles by entering the Vehicle Identification Number and paying a N15, 000 verification fee using any debit or credit card issued locally or internationally,” he stated.

Adeniyi explained that the system was built to empower citizens, importers and dealers with verifiable data, while helping customs officers eliminate manual bottlenecks, standardise operations across commands and strengthen enforcement capabilities.

He noted that the system also democratises access to verified information, enabling the public to make informed purchase decisions, while it eliminates inconsistencies and provides real-time validated data that improves decision-making for Customs officers.