The Anambra State Government has demolished a kidnappers’ den disguised as a hotel along the Onitsha-Owerri Road.
The property, officially registered as Udoka Golden Point Hotel and Suites, but popularly known as La Cruise Hotel, located along the Onitsha-Owerri Road was demolished on Saturday after the security operatives discovered its sinister operations.
Authorities said the building operating under the guise of a hotel was busted after a tip-off by a whistleblower and due intelligence gathered.
During the demolition, security operatives and local authorities said they made a horrifying discovery of over 30 well-partitioned graves downstairs of the structure, alongside a shrine as well as military camouflage, including arms and cartridges.
However, it could not be officially ascertained if any corpse was found from the grave or if any arrest was made at the said hotel, as the authorities had remained silent on it.
A statement shared on X by the Anambra State New Media said, the hotel, known as Udoka Golden Point Hotel and Suites, also referred to as “La Cruise Hotel”, was reportedly a hub for kidnappers and other criminal elements.
The statement read, “Oba, Idemili South LGA! Demolition of kidnappers den disguised as Udoka Golden Point Hotel and Suites AKA “La Cruise Hotel” along Onitsha-Owerri Road.
“The hotel has well-partitioned graves of over 30 on the last floor with a shrine!!”
Christian Aburime, the Press Secretary to the Anambra State governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, when contacted said investigations were still ongoing and would be communicated in due course.
Aburime said, “Yes, the hotel was demolished as part of Anambra State Homeland Security Law that says any structure or building found to be housing criminals or linked to the issue of kidnapping should be pulled down.
He said it was the law that had been passed by the state, and no matter who the owner of the structure was, if it was linked to any issue of kidnapping or any criminality, it had to be pulled down.
“As regards if corpses were found at the discovered graves or if any arrest was made, that I cannot say for now. Investigations are still ongoing and further development shall be made known as they unfold,” he said.
