- Proprietor to forfeit property
The Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, Mr. Charles Wobodo, has ordered the sealing of a hotel in his area for allegedly housing bandits terrorising the council.
Reports said that complying with the directive, a team from the council stormed the hotel in Igwuruta area and sealed it off.
The LGA has been in the news over attacks on communities in the area including Ipo, Igwuruta and Igwuruta-Ali, by gunmen alleged to be herdsmen.
However, the Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman, Wariso Wariso, said sealing off the hotel arose from credible evidences that the facility is harbouring bandits that perpetrate crime in the area.
The chairman said Ikwerre council is determined to fish out criminals in the area.
He said: “Today, we have come here with all the witnesses, we have gotten full evidences that they harbour the bandits and kidnappers here. With all the evidences we have, this hotel is permanently sealed off.
“When we say people should profile all those leaving with them, people don’t understand that. We don’t say don’t give a house to people or accommodate people, but what we are saying is that you need to get simple information about the person you are giving your house to.”
Wobodo further ordered the owner of the hotel, identified as Augusta Hotel, to report himself immediately to the security agents to explain where the number of persons discovered in his hotel came from and what they are doing in there.
He expressed disappointment that the owner of the hotel failed to have simple information about his guests.
He vowed that the hotel would no longer exist, as the council would legal steps to confiscate the property.