Gunmen, believed to be kidnappers, have killed Francis Igwe, father of a former deputy governor of Ebonyi State, hours after abducting him.
Mr Igwe was initially abducted on Sunday while he was on his way to church in Ndufu-Alike, a community in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
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He is the traditional ruler of the Ndufu-Alike Community.
Sources told this newspaper that the gunmen, who were operating on a motorcycle, intercepted his vehicle, forced him out, and whisked him away to an unknown location.
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Mr Igwe’s son, Kelechi Igwe, served as the state’s deputy governor from 2015 to 2023 during the administration of Dave Umahi, now minister of works.
Police speak
The police spokesperson in Ebonyi State, Joshua Ukandu, confirmed in a statement on Friday that the gunmen killed the traditional ruler after abducting him.
Mr Ukandu, a superintendent of police, said operatives launched “intensive operations” to rescue the traditional ruler immediately after the hoodlums abducted him.
The police spokesperson said the deployment of the operatives, as well as intelligence and technical assets,, led to the arrest of two suspected members of the kidnap gang responsible for his abduction.
“During interrogation, the suspects confessed that the monarch had been killed on 2 March.
“They further volunteered to lead operatives to their hideout and assist in the recovery of the remains of the monarch,” he said.
Mr Ukandu narrated that other members of the kidnapping gang opened fire on the operatives as they approached the hideout.
“The operatives responded with superior firepower, which overwhelmed the gang. In the course of the confrontation, one of the hoodlums was neutralised, while others fled the scene,” he said.
The police spokesperson said seven additional suspects were subsequently arrested and that one locally made pistol was recovered from the suspects.
Mr Ukandu added that the body of the traditional ruler had been recovered and deposited at a morgue for autopsy.
He said the suspects were currently in police custody, while efforts are ongoing to track down other fleeing members of the gang.
Increased cases of kidnapping
There have been growing incidents of kidnapping in many Nigerian cities.
Civil servants, business owners, politicians, and even students have become targets.
Kidnapping had been declared illegal in Nigeria since May 2022.
The country’s authorities enacted the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act (2022), which outlawed all forms of kidnapping.
The Act prescribes a death sentence for kidnapping in a case where the abduction leads to loss of life and life imprisonment where there is no loss of life.
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It was an amendment to the now-defunct Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act (2013), which had prescribed a 10-year jail term for kidnapping.
The new Act also prescribes at least a 15-year jail term for whoever pays ransom to free kidnapped victims.
Several persons have been convicted of kidnapping across Nigeria.
An Ikeja Special Offences Court, in September 2022, sentenced kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans, to 21 years imprisonment for kidnapping.
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