The Imo State Government has demolished a notorious hideout at Control Fly-Over, Owerri, which security reports confirmed was being used by bandits as a base of operations.
The flyover was commissioned by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday, but was taken over by hoodlums who converted it to a parking bay, smoking joints and a brothel.
However, the government, just a few hours after issuing a public notice, moved swiftly to safeguard the landmark project and guarantee the safety of commuters and residents around the strategic gateway.
The demolition exercise was carried out by the Office of the Governor on Monitoring and Compliance, headed by Nze Chinasa Nwaneri, in collaboration with security agencies.
According to intelligence, the location, which also operated as a brothel, had long served as a meeting point for armed criminals who planned kidnappings, robberies, and other violent crimes from the spot.
During the operation, a large cache of arms and dangerous weapons were recovered by security operatives and handed over to the appropriate authorities for investigation and prosecution. Several suspects were also arrested for further questioning.
In a related enforcement, commercial vehicles that attempted to convert the under-bridge of the newly commissioned Control-Assumpta Fly-Over into illegal loading bays were impounded.
The state government announced that the operators involved will face immediate prosecution, stressing that no misuse of critical infrastructure will be tolerated.
Residents who gathered at the scene welcomed the demolition and arrests, describing the measures as timely and in line with the governor’s resolve to match infrastructure development with stronger security.
Many said the site had been a persistent threat to safety in the area and praised Governor Hope Uzodimma for not only building but also securing Owerri for the people.
Speaking after the operation, Nze Nwaneri emphasised that the government would not allow criminal elements or illegal activities to undermine public safety. “The directive of His Excellency is clear: there must be no safe haven for criminals or lawbreakers in this state. Wherever they are identified, we will act immediately,” he said.
The government pledged to sustain similar operations across the state until all identified criminal hideouts and illegal practices are eliminated, he said.
Imo Demolishes Criminal Hideouts, Brothels, Recovers Arms Cache
