Why We Killed Nigerian-born US Soldier – Suspects

Ololade Adeyanju/

Members of a kidnap gang who abducted and murdered Chuks Okebata, a United States army veteran, two years ago, have revealed the reason for killing the victim.

Okebata was abducted and killed by some gunmen, led by Sunday Igwe (aka School Boy), in his hometown in Umuduruorie, Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.

Seven members of the kidnap gang, including Igwe, were arrested by the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team earlier this week.

The other suspects included Michael Ahmefula, Oyebuchi Echefule, Ndubusi Isaac, Victor Dagogo, Chima Okoro and John Edet.

According to Igwe, they forced the late soldier inside the boot of their operational car after abducting him and headed for their hideout.

He explained that the man brought out a pistol and started shooting at them in an attempt to escape, injuring him and the driver in the process.

He stated: “We didn’t know who he was when he kidnapped him. While we were heading for our camp, he pulled out his gun and started shooting at us from the boot. We didn’t know he had a pistol on him.

“Bullets hit me in the leg and the driver was shot in the hand. We then parked and disarmed him.

“We killed him because he proved stubborn. We dumped his body inside a gutter and left. We didn’t have the intention of killing him but he forced us to do so.”

Two Ak-47 rifles and six magazines loaded with 127 units of live ammunition were reportedly recovered from the suspects, who were arrested at different locations in Imo, Abia and Rivers states.

After several months of working on their leads, it was learnt that the detectives trailed Igwe to a hotel in Aba, Abia State, and apprehended him.

He was said to have led the team to arrest Ahamefula, his second-in-command, and Echefule in a hotel in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

It was gathered that other suspects were arrested in Orlu and Aba areas of Imo and Abia states respectively.

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