5 SUSPECTS IN CONNECTION WITH KIDNAP AND MURDER OF A CATHOLIC PRIEST IN IMO ARRESTED
The Police Command in Imo State has arrested five suspected criminals in connection with the kidnap and murder of a Catholic Priest, Reverend Father CyriacusOnunkwo at Orlu in Orlu Local Government Area of the State.
Parading the suspects in Owerri, the Commissioner of Police in the State, Mr. Chris Ezike said the arrest followed painstaking effort by men of the Command.
According to him, one of the suspects, a Police Corporal, Jude Madu who hails from Amuzi, Ahiara in AhiazuMbaise Local Government Area of the State was found in possession of a mobile phone belonging to the deceased Priest around Control Post in Owerri on Tuesday.
Mr. Ezike explained that a twenty-nine year old Emmanuel Ozuigbo from Mgbagbuowa in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State was also apprehended with a wristwatch belonging to the late Priest.
Other suspects paraded were Victor IkechukwuIrokanzi, the owner of the vehicle used in the operation, Onyema Cyril who drove the vehicle and IzuchukwuOkafor known as “Small” who hails from Azia in lhiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Mr. Ezike described the incident as unfortunate but gave an assurance that the Command was ready to reduce crime in the State to the barest.
The suspects who confessed to the crime said the identity of the late Cleric was not known to them before the abduction as he appeared in casual attire.
They however admitted that the late Priest suffocated inside the boot of their vehicle while on transit.
The Command equally paraded other suspects over alleged roles in robbery, kidnap and murder cases in the State.
Items recovered include AK-47 rifles, pistols, cartridges and stolen vehicles.
The police say the suspects will appear in court as soon as investigations are concluded.
It would be recalled that Reverend Father CyriacusOnunkwo’s lifeless body was found in a gutter in Omuma, Orlu East Local Government Area of Imo State last Saturday after he was abducted at Banana Junction in Orlu on the first of this month.
CHINAZO ILECHUKWU