Police have confirmed the killing of a traditional ruler and father of Ebonyi’s former Deputy Governor, Kelechi Igwe, following his abduction on Sunday, March 1.
Francis Igwe was seized by gunmen while on his way to church in the Ndufu-Alike community.
Following the incident, Ebonyi Police Command spokesperson Joshua Ukandu stated that a high-level investigation led to the arrest of two primary suspects.
Through the use of intelligence-led policing, the authorities extracted a confession from the detainees, who admitted that the monarch was murdered on March 2.
“They further volunteered to lead operatives to their hideout and assist in recovering the monarch’s remains,” the statement said.
As police teams closed in on the kidnappers’ hideout, gang members opened fire, triggering a fierce gun battle.
According to Police spokesman Joshua Ukandu, the operatives responded with superior firepower, neutralizing one of the criminals while others fled the scene.
In the aftermath of the confrontation, a locally made pistol was recovered, and a subsequent crackdown led to the arrest of seven additional suspects.
This brings the total number of individuals in custody to nine.
Ukandu further confirmed that the remains of the traditional ruler have been recovered and moved to a morgue for autopsy.
While the suspects await formal charges, the police continue their pursuit of the remaining gang members.
Persecondnews recalls that Mr. Eric Kelechi Igwe served as the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State for exactly eight years, spanning two terms – 2015 – 2023.
He served in the administration of Governor David Umahi, now the Minister of Works.
During their second term, both Igwe and Umahi made the headlines for defecting from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2020.
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