Ex-police corporal, others arrested in connection with kidnapped Catholic priest’s death in Imo

Imo State Police Command has arrested six persons suspected to have abducted and murdered a Catholic priest, Reverend Father Cyriacus Onunkwo, of Umuotuasi village, Osina in Ideato North Local Government Area of the state.

Briefing the press at the police headquarters, Owerri, while parading the suspects, the state police commissioner Mr Chris Ezike, said the incident occurred last Friday, at Banana Junction, Orlu, Imo State.

According to him, on September 1, at about 2035 hours (8:35 p.m.), police received report that four armed men using a Toyota Avalon car blocked the way of Rev. Father Onunkwu, who was driving his Toyota Corolla car with registration number Imo KED 290 AA, grey in colour, was abducted and taken to unknown place with the Avalon car.

He gave the names of the arrested suspects as Emmanuel Ozuigbo, Victor Ikechukwu Iroakansi, Ikechukwu Nwosu, Jude Madu, who was said to be an ex-police officer, Izuchukwu Okafor and Onyema Cyril.

Ezike said that the ex-cop was arrested at control post, Owerri, with the deceased’s phone.

The police commissioner said that the deceased might have died as a result of suffocation, as his abductors tied him up and taped his mouth before dumping him in the boot of their car.

He added that his command declared a search on September 2, with the Divisional Police Officer, Omuma Division reporting later that an unidentified corpse of a man was seen in his area of jurisdiction.

Ezike stated further that the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, who was saddened by the development, ordered full-scale investigation.

He said the command was able to arrest the suspects through a whistle-blowing strategy and forensic technology.

One of the suspects, Okafor, said that the priest was killed in error.

Okafor claimed that the gang only kidnapped the priest for ransom but later discovered that he had died while on transit to their hideout.

“When we kidnapped the priest, we used cellotape to seal his mouth, unknown to us that his nose was also sealed.

“When we discovered that he could no longer talk, we unsealed his mouth and found out that he was dead,” Okafor said.

Another suspect, Cyril, also said that when he discovered that their victim was a priest, he opted for his release, but the ex-police officer who was among them threatened to shoot him if they released him.