Imo police arrest three suspected kidnappers who killed Lagos-based philanthropist after collecting N10m ransom

The Imo Police Command has arrested three suspected kidnappers over the murder of Lagos-based businessman and philanthropist, Ikechukwu Ebelebe.

LIB reported that the deceased was kidnapped in his hometown, Owerre-Akokwa in Ideato-North Local Government Area of Imo State during the Easter holidays.

The three suspects were paraded on Wednesday, July 13, 2023, alongside 56 others arrested for various criminal offences, including armed robbery, kidnapping, child trafficking, cultism, murder and terrorism between January and June, 2023.

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde, confirmed the arrest at the command’s headquarters in Owerri, while briefing newsmen on the recent exploits by the command in its efforts to rid the state of criminals.

CP Barde, represented by the command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Henry Okoye, said despite collecting a N10m ransom, the kidnappers killed Ebelebe and dumped his corpse at the Ajali river bank in Anambra State.

“On April 13, at about 1930hrs, one Ikechukwu Ebelebe of Owerre-Akokwa in Ideato North LGA was kidnapped and robbed of his Toyota RAV4 SUV Jeep in-front of his residence by some kidnappers,” the PPRO stated.

“The kidnappers collected a ransom of N10 million from the victim’s bank account, thereafter, killed him and dumped his corpse at Ajali river bank in Anambra.

“Through credible intelligence gathering, one Chinedu Christian Ejezie, aka “Holy Condom”, and Okechukwu Ibemere, both from Imo were arrested at Ebute Ero Market in Idumota LGA of Lagos State.

“Both suspects confessed to the crime, which led to the subsequent arrest of their gang member, Emmanuel Ubah,”

He said police also recovered five sim cards of different networks used by the suspects to negotiate and collect the ransom.