Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State on Monday ordered the demolition of a brothel said to be harbouring a variety of criminals in the state capital Calabar.

An aide to the governor, Henry Okokon, told newsmen that security agents attached to the state’s newly established security outfit “Operation Akpakwu” were also directed to pull down at least four houses believed to be owned by suspected kidnappers at 8-Miles area of Calabar.

Mr. Okokon explained that the demolition exercise was part of strategies by the Ayade administration to rein in criminals in Cross River.

“This is part of the activities of Operation Akpakwu, a special force set up by Gov. Ayade to fight crime in the state, especially kidnapping,” the official said.

He added: “This demolition exercise is ongoing. The governor has warned that anyone who is involved in any form of criminality, or any landlord who is found harbouring any criminal, should desist from it,”

“These houses belong to individuals who have been caught in the act of kidnapping in the state. The brothel was also brought down because the management of the facility was also harbouring criminals and drug addicts.”

Mr. Okokon urged business operators in the state to go about their normal businesses, while assuring that the state government was doing its best to protect them from criminals.

The newly formed “Operation Akpakwu” consists of operatives drawn from the Navy, Air Force, Army, police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps.