The Imo State Police Command has arrested three suspects in connection with the abduction of a 48-year-old Owerri resident, Sabinus Ibe.
In a statement on Sunday, the command’s spokesperson, Henry Okoye, said the arrests were made on March 18 following an investigation and operations led by the Commander of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit in Owerri.
The suspects, identified as Favour Dike, 22; Ifeanyi Kingsley, 30; and Wisdom Chikodi, 31, allegedly received a ransom payment after abducting Ibe.
“The kidnap victim, Mr. Sabinus Ibe, was abducted on February 22, 2025, at around 8:00 PM in Egbu, Owerri. He was forcibly taken to an undisclosed location by the kidnappers. The kidnappers then demanded a ransom for his release, which was paid through a POS transaction. The payment was traced to a Moniepoint account (8213707568) operated by one of the suspects, Favour Dike, at the Timber and Allied Market in Owerri North Local Government Area,” the statement read.
Upon arrest, Dike admitted to receiving a two-million-naira ransom on the instructions of Ifeanyi Kingsley, a trader at the Timber and Allied Market. Kingsley later confessed to providing his POS details at the request of his friend, Wisdom Chikodi, who is believed to have played a key role in the kidnapping.
Further investigations led to Chikodi’s arrest at a hotel in New Owerri. He later took police operatives to the Old Township Stadium on Tetlow Road, where gang members fled upon sighting the police, abandoning an ash-colored Toyota Camry 2.4. A search of the vehicle uncovered two pump-action rifles, a locally made gun, and 18 live cartridges. Several additional arrests were also made as officers pursued the fleeing suspects.
The Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, assured the public of the command’s commitment to fighting crime.
He stated that the suspects would be arraigned after investigations and that efforts were underway to apprehend other members of the syndicate.
Danjuma urged residents to report suspicious activities to the nearest police station or via 0803 477 3600.
