Rotimi Morgan/
Five days of investigations in three states have led to the arrest of a former police corporal and five other suspected kidnappers and killers of a Reverend Father (Rev Fr) in Imo State on September 1, 2017.
According to Imo commissioner of police (CP) Chris Ezike, who celebrated the feat today at the state police headquarters in Owerri, the arrested suspects have told how Rev Fr Cyriacus Onunkwo was abducted, tied up, and his mouth cello-taped before he was dumped in the booth of the Toyota Avalon car used by the suspects.
“He apparently gasped for air and could not make it,” Ezike said, as he pointed out that the police were conducting further investigations to strengthen the interim finding with scientific examination and opinion.
Ezike identified the suspects as 32-year-old ex-corporal Jude Madu; Izuchukwu Okafor aka ‘Small’ 28; Onyema Cyril, 29; Emmanuel Ozuigbo, 29; Victor Ikechukwu Iroakanzi, 33, and Ifechukwu Nwosu, 28.
Speaking at a press briefing, Ezike gave details of the abduction and murder of Rev Fr Onunkwo of Umuotuasi Village, Osina in Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State on September 1, 2017 at Banana Junction in Orlu area of the state.
He said, “On September 1, 2017 at about 2035hours, Police received a report that four armed men using a Toyota Avalon car double-crossed Rev Fr Cyriacus Onunkwo who was driving in his Toyota Corolla car with Registration Number IMO KED 290 AA, grey in colour; abducted him into their Avalon car and sped off to unknown destination.
“The incident was said to have happened at Banana Junction, Orlu. The Police subsequently declared a search and on September 2, 2017, the Divisional Police Officer at Omuma reported that an unidentified corpse of a man was seen in his area of jurisdiction and recovered to the mortuary. In furtherance thereof, Rev Fr Kenneth Obialisi and DPO Orlu were alerted and they rushed to Omuma and identified the corpse as that of the kidnapped Rev Fr Cyriacus Onunkwo.
“It became a sad moment for the Command because of the unusual nature of the incident and the speed with which events unfolded leading to death. The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim K. Idris NPM, mni saddened by this development ordered full scale investigation. He directed that I should place all assets of the Command at the disposal of the investigation team to solve the problem.
“In compliance with the Inspector-General’s directive, I visited the Bishop of Orlu, His Lordship, Bishop Augustine Ukwuoma, the native Parish of the deceased Reverend, St. Mary’s Parish in Osina and the family of the Onunkwo’s at Osina on Monday 4th September, 2017. I ended the visit with a stopover on the Archbishop of Owerri, Archbishop Anthony J. Obina. The visit was to express the condolences of the IGP and the Command and also enable me cultivate and build confidence in the investigative journey ahead. It paid off.
“The investigating team using Forensic technology and backed up by hard work, commitment, passion and hunger for success arrested Ex-Corporal Jude Madu who was found in possession of the late Rev Fr Onunkwo’s Infinix telephone handset.”
According to Ezike, the suspects were arrested through a process of Intelligence and Investigative reconstruction.
Ezike said that Izuchukwu Okafor “was arrested on the 6th of September, 2017 at Hotel Presidential Port Harcourt where he fled after the incident. He hails from Ukwukwa Village in Azia of Anambra State but resident at Rukpoku, Port Harcourt, in Rivers State. He took part in the commission of the crime and has confessed as well. He also confessed to other heinous crimes”.
He revealed that Onyema Cyril “was arrested on the 6th of September, 2017 at Control Post Owerri. He hails from Umuaro Village, Okwelle in Onuimo LGA of Imo State. He holds a National Diploma in Public Administration from Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Imo State. He has confessed to the commission of the crime. He drove the Toyota Avalon ash colour saloon car with Registration No. ETU 368 AA with which the crime was committed.
“Emmanuel Ozuigbo was arrested on September 6 at NNPC Mega Station by Control Post area in Owerri. He holds WASC. He hails from Mgbagbuowa in Ezeagu, Ezeagu LGA of Enugu State. He resides at Ama Hausa in Owerri. He confessed to the crime and the wristwatch of the deceased Rev Fr was recovered from him.
“Victor Ikechukwu hails from Umuchukwu Umuagu, Obowo in Obowo LGA and was arrested on the 6th of September, 2017 at Mpama Egbu. He holds a BSc in Management Technology from Federal University of Technology Owerri. He is the owner of the Toyota Avalon car used in the commission of the crime.
“Ifechukwu Nwosu was arrested on 7th of September, 2017, and hails from Azia in Ihialla LGA of Anambra State. He is resident in Azia and confessed to the crime.
“Ex-Corporal Jude Madu hails from Umukishi Amuze Ahiara in Ahiazu Mbaise LGA of Imo state. He is a member of the armed robbery/kidnapping syndicate and took part in the operation. He holds a National Diploma from Abia State Polytechnic, in Aba, and was arrested on September 5, at Control Post, Owerri, in possession of the deceased’s phone. He confessed to the crime.
“This investigation is five days old today and investigators traversed three states of Anambra, Imo and Rivers to achieve great results. Though Rev Fr Cyriacus Onunkwo died, his spirit lives on and will obviously teach the lesson that criminal impunity has a price. The investigators have continuously kept awake for five days now and I am happy that their efforts were not in vain. I salute the courage and tenacity of the men of SARS Imo State Command and assure them that their hard work shall be rewarded.”
Ezike added that investigation would continue because the suspects had made other confessions not related to the case at hand, which require extensive probing.
“For now, though we lost, humanity has won plentifully,” he said.
Ezike also spoke of the arrest of nine other suspected kidnappers and armed robbers, including those who abducted a gospel singer, Prince Chinedu Nwadike.
He said, “On August 25, operatives of the Command’s Anti-kidnapping Squad in the course of investigation, using Forensic technology, arrested five kidnap and robbery suspects who were involved in the kidnap of the popular gospel singer, Prince Chinedu Nwadike and robbed him of his red coloured Honda CRV Jeep with Registration Number ABN 492 TS along World Bank Road near Great Gospel Liberation International Church, New Owerri, on July 10 at about 7:40pm. The suspects collected a ransom of N4million from the victim’s relatives before he was released.
“Suspects have confessed to the crime and the victim’s car recovered at Calabar, in Cross River State.”
The suspects were identified as 26-year-old Chibuike Owen of Umuogele Isiala Ngwa, in Abia State; Obinna Onye, 36, of Umueze Amaimo in Ikeduru LGA of Imo State; Chiagoziem Okoye, 36, of Ukwulu Dunukofia LGA of Anambra State; Chukwuemeka Daniel, 28, of Ogwa Mbaitoli LGA of Imo, and Anyanwu Odinakachi, 40, of Umuobia Olokoro, in Umuahia South LGA of Abia.
Ezike also spoke about another breakthrough in which four suspected kidnappers were caught on August 9, 2017, following the kidnap of victims identified as Johnbosco Okoro and Njoku Mathias Emeka.
The suspects allegedly snatched the victim’s Toyota Venza, ash in colour, marked KTU 568 DE on May 24, 2017, at about 10am at Umunkwo in Isiala Mbano.
Ezike said, “The suspects collected a ransom of N6million before releasing the victims. The suspects were arrested in the course of investigation into the case and they have confessed to the crime.”
The suspects were identified as 42-year-old Kelechi Aririguzo, of Ekwedim Isiala Mbano LGA, in Imo State; Alphonsus Aku, 42, of Umuenyi Isiala Mbano LGA, in Imo; Vitalis Nwaozuzu, 56, of Umunkwo Isiala Mbano LGA, in Imo, and Maxwell Akubuisi, 45, of Amuzari Isiala Mbano LGA of Imo.
The CP appealed to citizens of Imo State to continue to patronize the Police’s whistle blowing policy.
He said, “As we have entered the ember months, the challenges may become increasingly visible but we assure Imolites of our capacity, capability and determination to continue to make Imo State safe and secure. Criminal impunity has a price and with our renewed vigour and zeal, criminals may pay the price sooner than expected. The Command is grateful to the Government of Imo State, the Catholic Diocese of Orlu, St. Mary’s Parish Osina, ArchBishop Anthony Obinna, the Onunkwo family of Osina, the Police Community Relations Committee in Imo State, the Media and indeed all Imolites and residents for their support during this investigation.”
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