By EDISON Okereke

The Police, at the weekend, in Imo State said they had arrested three persons allegedly suspected to be connected with the conspiracy and kidnapping of one Sabinus Ibe, 48, a resident of Owerri, in the state capital.

In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Okoye Henry, said following thorough investigations, the suspects were apprehended and identified as Favour Dike, ‘f’ 22 years old; Ifeanyi Kingsley, 30 years old; and Wisdom Chikaodi, 31 years old.

The statement says the victim, Ibe was whisked away in Egbu near Owerri on February 22, 2025, about 8 o’clock in the evening, and taken to an unknown place, from where his abductors demanded a ransom, amounting to N2 million naira (N2m) which was eventually paid through a point of sales transaction operated by one of the suspects, Favour, following which the cat was reportedly let out of the bag.

The police say the suspects who were arrested on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, will be arraigned in court very soon.

The commissioner, CP Aboki Danjuma, who gave the indication, called on the general public to report suspicious activities around them to the nearest police station with the number given below.

The statement says, “Operatives of the Imo State Police Command Anti-Kidnapping Unit have apprehended three individuals in connection with the conspiracy and kidnapping of Mr. Sabinus Ibe, a 48-year-old resident of Owerri.

“The suspects, identified as Favour Dike, ‘f’ 22 years old; Ifeanyi Kingsley, 30 years old; and Wisdom Chikaodi, 31 years old, were arrested on March 18, 2025, following thorough investigations and strategic operations led by the Commander Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Owerri.

“The 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.

“Upon arrest, Favour Dike, admitted to receiving a two million naira ransom payment on the instructions of Ifeanyi Kingsley, a trader in Timber and Allied Market Naze in Owerri. Kingsley later confessed to providing Dike’s POS account details at the request of his friend, Wisdom Chikodi, a member of the kidnapping syndicate. Chikodi, from Umuezuo Ekwereazu in Ahiazu Mbaise LGA, is believed to have played a significant role in orchestrating the kidnapping.

“Further investigation led to the arrest of Wisdom Chikodi in his hotel room at New Owerri. Chikodi then took operatives to the Old Township Stadium, Tetlow Road, where gang members fled upon seeing the police, abandoning an ash-colored Toyota Camry 2.4 model. A search of the vehicle uncovered two pump-action rifles, one locally-made gun, and 18 live cartridges. Several additional arrests were made as operatives pursued the fleeing suspects.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Police Command, CP Aboki Danjuma, has reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to fighting crime. He assured that the suspects will be arraigned in court after the investigation, and efforts are underway to apprehend other members of the syndicate.

“The public is urged to report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station or via 0803 477 3600.”