Imo police exhume remains of kidnap victim

From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri

Operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Imo State Police Command on Thursday exhumed the remains of Ikemefula Ikem, an automobile engineer who was kidnapped and killed by his captors.

The deceased was kidnapped and held in a forest for seven days around the Otulu/Mgbidi community in Oru West Council of Imo State. He was later killed by his captors despite the payment of a seven-million-naira ransom (N7m) by family members in November 2025.

The Unit Commander, ACP Oladimeji Odeyeyiwa, led journalists to the crime scene at the Otulu/Mgbidi forest, where the deceased was buried in a shallow grave by his captors.

According to the police, the prime suspect, Mr Odidika Okwuegbulem, an alleged notorious kidnapping kingpin who hails from the same Mgbidi community, had abducted the victim, Ikemefula, and collected a ransom of ₦7 million, including his Highlander Jeep.

The police said Mr Odidika Okwuegbulem had revealed that one ThankGod Ezegbuo allegedly reported that his former apprentice, Engr Ikem, was becoming very successful in his automobile business and had been showing off his wealth and becoming arrogant, and he decided to kill him.

According to the police, in his confessional statement, Mr Odidika Okwuegbulem said he was contracted by Mr ThankGod Ezegbuo, the former employer of the deceased, who allegedly offered him ₦1.5 million for the operation but paid only ₦500,000, leaving a balance of ₦1 million.

He further disclosed that he and ThankGod Ezegbuo conspired to bury the deceased in a shallow grave within the forest in November 2025.

The suspects claimed that the death of the victim was not intentional, stating that they had planned to release him before his demise.

After his death, the two suspects allegedly agreed to conceal the crime by burying the body in the forest.

The remains have since been deposited at the morgue of the Federal University Teaching Hospital for further examination.

Meanwhile, in a related development, a suspected member of a kidnapping syndicate, identified as Mmiri, has been neutralised, while another suspect, known as Uraatu, remains on the wanted list.

The Imo State Police Command has reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the ongoing crackdown on criminal elements across the state, assuring residents of continued efforts to ensure safety and justice.