Ebonyi Police Recover Body of Abducted Traditional Ruler, Father of Ex-Deputy Governor – Kidnappers Kill Victim, Nine Suspects Arrested
The Ebonyi State Police Command has confirmed the recovery of the body of HRH Ezeogo Francis Igwe, the traditional ruler of Ndufu-Alike in Ikwo Local Government Area and father of former Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Dr. Eric Kelechi Igwe (also referred to as Barr. Kelechi Igwe). The monarch was abducted on Sunday, March 1, 2026, by gunmen while on his way to church. Masked assailants reportedly blocked his vehicle and whisked him away on a motorcycle. The kidnappers later contacted the family, demanding a ransom of N250 million. Negotiations were ongoing when the abductors killed him in their hideout, reportedly a day after the abduction. In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Ebonyi State Command, SP Joshua Ukandu, detailed that following the kidnapping, operatives launched intensive operations to rescue the victim. The efforts led to the arrest of nine suspects and the recovery of the monarch's remains from the kidnappers' den near Nkwegu, close t...