The Imo State Police Command has arrested three individuals in connection with the abduction of 48-year-old Sabinus Ibe, a resident of Owerri, the state capital.
Henry Okoye, the command spokesperson, said in a statement released on Sunday that the suspects were captured on March 18 “following investigation and strategic operations led by the Commander of Anti-kidnapping Unit, Owerri”.
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The suspects, Favour Dike, 22; Ifeanyi Kingsley, 30; and Wisdom Chikodi, 31, abducted Ibe and subsequently demanded and collected a ransom.
“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 reads.
“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 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.”
Aboki Danjuma, the Commissioner of Police in the state, assured that the command remains committed to combating crime.
He promised the public that attempts are being made to capture more syndicate members and that the accused would be charged in court following an investigation.
He advised the people to report any suspicious actions to the nearest police station or by calling 0803 477 3600.
