The Ebonyi State Police Command has confirmed the killing of the abducted traditional ruler of the Ndufu-Alike community in the Ikwo Local Government Area, Ezeogo Francis Igwe, by his kidnappers.
Reports say the armed men riding on a motorcycle on Sunday, 1st March intercepted his vehicle on his way to church and forced him out, before whisking him away to an unknown destination.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Ebonyi State Command, Joshua Ukandu, who confirmed the development said the monarch, the father of a former Deputy Governor of the State , Kelechi Igwe was killed a day after he was abducted.
The PPRO while pointing out that operatives of the command immediately launched intensive operations aimed at rescuing him disclosed that through the deployment of technical and intelligence resources, two suspects believed to be members of the kidnapping syndicate responsible for the crime were arrested.
According to him, the suspects reportedly confessed during interrogation that the monarch was killed on Monday, March 2, 2026 and volunteered to lead operatives to their hideout and assist in the recovery of the victim’s remains.
Ukandu further explained:
“However, upon approaching the hideout, other members of the gang opened fire on the operatives. The operatives responded with superior firepower, which overwhelmed the gang”.
The Command which revealed that one of the hoodlums was neutralised during the confrontation, stated that others fled the scene, while seven additional suspects in connection with the crime were arrested with one locally made pistol recovered from them.
The suspects are in police custody, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the gang.
He made it clear that the remains of the slain traditional ruler were later recovered and deposited in a mortuary for autopsy.
