admin
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 Chikodi, 31 years old, were arrested on March 18, 2025, following thorough investigations and strategic operations led by the Commander Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Owerri.
According to a police statement signed by DSP Henry Okoye, the Police spokesperson, 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 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.
