Abductors murder former Ebonyi state deputy governor's dad

The police have confirmed that Francis Igwe, the father of former Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Kelechi Igwe, and the traditional ruler of Ndufu-Alike in Ikwo Local Government Area, has been killed by his kidnappers. Francis Igwe was abducted on Sunday, March 1, 2026, while on his way to church. The police launched an immediate investigation into the incident. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Joshua Ukandu, confirmed the incident in a statement on Friday. The police had been working tirelessly to rescue the monarch and apprehend the kidnappers.

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According to DSP Ukandu, the police deployed technical and intelligence assets to track down the kidnappers, which led to the arrest of two suspects believed to be part of the kidnapping syndicate. The suspects confessed to the crime during interrogation, revealing that the monarch had been killed on March 2. The suspects also offered to lead the police to their hideout and assist in recovering the monarch's remains. The police took the suspects up on their offer, but the operation took a turn when other gang members opened fire on the police team. The police responded with force, overpowering the criminals in the ensuing gun battle.

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The confrontation resulted in one of the hoodlums being neutralised, while the others fled the scene. The police were able to arrest seven additional suspects, bringing the total number of suspects in custody to nine. One locally made pistol was also recovered during the operation. The remains of the slain traditional ruler have been recovered and deposited in a morgue for autopsy. The police are still working to apprehend the remaining gang members who fled the scene. The suspects are currently being held in police custody, pending the conclusion of the investigation.

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Once the investigation is complete, the suspects will be charged to court. The police are committed to ensuring that justice is served in the case of the murdered traditional ruler. The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, and the police are working to reassure the public that they are doing everything in their power to prevent such incidents in the future. The police are urging anyone with information about the kidnapping or the suspects to come forward and assist in the ongoing investigation. The case is a tragic reminder of the dangers of kidnapping and the importance of swift and effective law enforcement action.