Operatives of the tactical unit under Operation Puff Adder of the Bayelsa State Police Command have apprehended the man suspected of murdering 42-year-old estate agent, Richard Ekpebu.
Ekpebu was abducted and killed on July 24, 2025, with his body later discovered in a bush along the new Otuoke Road near Bayelsa Palm.
The suspect, identified as George Idumangi from Ogbia Local Government Area, claims to be affiliated with the Ijaw Youths Council worldwide.
He was arrested in Lagos while attempting to obtain an international passport at an immigration office.
Sources indicate that the arrest followed growing concerns and a formal petition by the deceased’s family regarding the perceived slow pace of the investigation.
In response, Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Francis Idu, directed the case to be transferred to the tactical unit led by CSP Chris Nwaogbo.
The pursuit of the suspect led officers from Yenagoa across several locations in Lagos, including Lekki, Ikorodu, Festac Town, Ikeja, and Orile.
Despite narrowly missing him at several hideouts, police recovered a bag containing a T-shirt with “IYC Tactical Team” written on it, along with two mobile phones allegedly used during the crime.
Within eight days, Nwaogbo’s team also apprehended the suspect’s girlfriend, identified as 23-year-old Victory Benard Henry, in Yenagoa.
A search led to the recovery of one pump-action gun, five live cartridges, three empty AK-47 magazines, four walkie-talkies, ten chargers, and three AK-47 slings from her custody.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the late estate agent was initially contacted by Henry, who posed as someone offering land for sale.
Ekpebu connected the suspect with a prospective buyer, resulting in a payment of ₦9 million directly into Idumangi’s account.
Henry reportedly received ₦1 million for her involvement.
Complications arose when the buyer demanded property documents, prompting Ekpebu to explain that he had been excluded from the transaction.
He advised the buyer to reach out to the seller directly and warned the suspect against falsely implicating him in withholding the documents.
According to police sources, Idumangi and an accomplice, identified as Victor Shadrack, allegedly lured Ekpebu out of his residence, abducted him, and subsequently killed him.
“They killed him because they wanted to cover up the lie they told the buyer that the deceased had run away with the land document,” the source said.
Further investigations uncovered that the disputed land had previously been sold to the former Chief Security Officer to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, raising suspicions of fraudulent double-dealing.
Confirming the arrest, Commissioner Francis Idu stated: “After painstaking intelligence and law enforcement measures, Mr. George Idumangi, who murdered Mr. Richard Ekpebu at Bayelsa Palm in early August, was arrested this morning in Lagos trying to flee the country. This was done with real intelligence.”
