Police apprehend suspected murderers of Ebonyi Catholic church worshipers
On Tuesday, the Ebonyi State Police Command showcased 17 individuals accused of various crimes, including kidnapping, murder, and armed robbery in the state. Among those presented were individuals allegedly involved in the killing of three Catholic worshippers at Immaculate Conception Parish in Abakaliki, the state capital, a day before Christmas, as well as those responsible for the abduction of United States returnees in Afikpo, Afikpo Local Government Area.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Joshua Akandu, informed journalists during the suspects' parade that Friday Igwe and Nnabugwe Ebube were implicated in the murder of three parishioners at Immaculate Catholic Conception Parish in Nkwagu, Abakaliki.
He stated, "On 24/12/2023, a group of armed individuals attacked Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Nkwagu, resulting in the deaths of Cyril Obinna Mbam, Nwifuru Chukwuebuka Mathew, and Alo Onyedikachi Solomon. They also took possession of a black Toyota Corolla belonging to the late Mbam.
"Promptly, our command's operatives took action, leading to the apprehension of Friday Igwe and Nnabugwe Ebube, along with the recovery of the stolen Toyota Corolla. The arrested suspects have provided crucial information for ongoing investigations."
During an interview with our correspondent, Njoku Michael from Abia State detailed how they executed the crime and confirmed collecting a ransom of N40 million before releasing the victims.
"We were a group of four individuals involved in the kidnapping, but only two of us were apprehended by the police, and the whereabouts of the others remain unknown. No fatalities occurred as a result of our actions; the lady's death was due to fear, and we did not use firearms. I was unaware of the person who initiated me into the kidnapping of the individuals in Ebonyi. The individual who involved me is a Fulani man and also my customer. He purchases items from my shop where I sell provisions."
"On December 13, 2023, the man visited my shop with his cattle. I remarked, 'Alhaji, you have quite a number of cows now.' He affirmed ownership, and I requested a loan of N50,000, promising to repay by February. He expressed inability to provide the funds at that moment but assured me he would revert.
Five days later, he returned without his cattle. He informed me of a job opportunity in Afikpo, Ebonyi State, which I had never visited. Inquiring about the nature of the work, he explained it involved manure, with the potential to earn N30,000 to N40,000 in four days. Agreeing to the proposition, I arranged for my brother to manage the shop while I accompanied the Alhaji for the job."
"I accompanied the man to Afikpo, and we arrived there on New Year's evening. He provided me with food and arranged accommodation in a hotel. Later, he hailed a motorcycle and instructed me to join him. We reached a dense forest, where he mentioned he would return. Subsequently, he brought two of his brothers to join me, without explaining our purpose. The time was in the evening.
He left briefly and returned with a bag. Upon opening it on the ground, I discovered a gun and a cloth. Questioning the purpose of the gun, he responded, 'Didn't you say you were in need of money? This is the time to get it.' After preparing himself, he instructed us to follow him. We reached a bush path where he directed us to wait in a corner."
"While in the bush, he spotted an approaching jeep and fired a shot into the air. The vehicle halted, and he assaulted it, forcing it to open. Inside were two men and one woman. He instructed them to disembark and follow us. Leading from the front, he guided us to a dense forest. We walked for two hours before reaching the thick forest."
Njoku revealed that he received $30 from the N40 million ransom payment, which was provided in both dollars and naira.
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