Body of Former Deputy Governor's Abducted Father Found by Ebonyi Police

Authorities in Ebonyi state have found the body of Ezeogo Francis Igwe, who was abducted while heading to church last Sunday. Igwe was the traditional ruler of Ndufu-Alike and the father of the state's former deputy governor.

The kidnapping occurred as he was en route to church, where masked gunmen intercepted his vehicle and forcibly took him away on a motorcycle.

Following his abduction, the kidnappers contacted his family and demanded a ransom of N250 million. Unfortunately, during the negotiations, they killed him at their hideout.

In a statement from the police, spokesperson SP Joshua Ukandu noted that officers launched a rescue operation to confront the kidnappers, who opened fire on them. During the encounter, one of the kidnappers was killed, and several others were detained.

“Following the kidnapping of HRH Eze Francis Igwe on March 1, 2026, the Ebonyi State Command swiftly initiated extensive operations aimed at securing the release of the traditional ruler. Utilizing technical and intelligence resources, we were able to arrest two suspects believed to be part of the kidnapping ring,” the statement said.

According to police investigations, these suspects revealed that Igwe was murdered on March 2, 2026. They also agreed to lead officers to their location, facilitating the recovery of Igwe's remains.

As officers approached the hideout, they came under fire from other gang members but retaliated effectively, overpowering the attackers. During this confrontation, one of the robbers was shot dead, and additional suspects managed to escape while seven others were apprehended. A locally made firearm was also seized during this operation.

The corpse of the late Ezeogo was subsequently transported to the morgue for a post-mortem examination.

Currently, all detained suspects are in police custody while efforts continue to capture those who fled. They will face legal action once the investigation is completed,” Ukandu concluded.