The Bayelsa State Police Command has arrested the suspected killer of 42-year-old estate agent, Richard Ekpebu, who was abducted, murdered, and his body dumped in a bush on July 24 this year.
The suspect, identified as George Idumangi, from Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, was arrested on Monday in Lagos while attempting to procure an international passport at the Immigration Office.
It was gathered that the state Commissioner of Police, CP Francis Idu, had transferred the case to Operation Puff Adder, led by CSP Chris Nwaogbo, for investigation.
According to a police source, operatives of Operation Puff Adder trailed the suspect to Lekki, Ikorodu, Festac, Ikeja, and Orile in Lagos State before finally arresting him on Monday.
Officers reportedly missed him narrowly at some hideouts but recovered his bag containing a T-shirt with “IYC Tactical Team” inscribed on it, as well as two phones allegedly used in the murder of the estate agent.
The police team had earlier arrested 23-year-old Victory Benard Henry, said to be Idumangi’s girlfriend, in Yenagoa. Items recovered from her included one pump-action rifle, five live cartridges, two empty AK-47 magazines, 10 walkie-talkies, 10 chargers, and three AK-47 rifle slings.
Victory allegedly lured the late Ekpebu under the pretence of discussing a land sale. She linked him to Idumangi, who then connected with a potential buyer. The buyer reportedly paid N9 million directly into Idumangi’s account.
Preliminary police investigations revealed that Victory allegedly received N1 million for her role. Trouble began when the buyer demanded land documents from Ekpebu, who denied knowledge of the transaction.
According to a police source, “The buyer contacted the agent for the papers. The agent told him to meet the landowner, as he was not aware of the transaction. He said instead of informing him, the buyer paid the suspect directly.”
The deceased later confronted Idumangi, warning him not to lie that he had received the land documents.
Subsequently, the suspect, alongside one Victor Shadrack (popularly known as Doggy) and another accomplice identified as Insurance, allegedly lured Ekpebu out of his house, abducted him, and killed him to cover up their false claim that the agent had absconded with the land documents.
Confirming the incident, CP Idu said, “After painstaking intelligence and law enforcement measures, Mr George Idumangi, who murdered Mr Richard Ekpebu at Bayelsa Palm, was arrested this morning in Lagos while trying to flee the country. This was achieved with real intelligence. I am grateful to the noble people of Bayelsa and the Prosperity Government.”
