Police have arrested a suspect named Charles Nnanna in connection with the kidnap and murder of a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Cyriakus Onunkwo a native of Osina town, Imo State in 2017.

Nnanna reportedly fled to Indonesia after committing the crime.

Flavision reporters learnt that operatives of the the State Police Command’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) arrested the suspect on February 16th, 2020 at about 5:40 pm, at Aji in Oru East Local Government Area (L.G.A.) of Imo State during his traditional wedding ceremony.

The suspect who led a kidnapping gang that abducted the priest on September 1st, 2017 at about 08:35 pm, after arriving home for his late father’s funeral. The gang consequently killed him and left his corpse, which was later recovered the following day at Omuma in Oru East Local Government Area (L.G.A.)of the state.

While police were investigating the crime, all the other suspects were arrested, except Nnanna who fled to Indonesia.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the state, SP Orlando Ikeokwu, who confirmed the arrest, said that based on credible intelligence, the suspect was apprehended, while doing his traditional marriage ceremony.

According to the PRO, the suspect had confessed to the abduction and killing of the priest, as well as his lead role in the operation, adding that he would be charged to court accordingly.

In another development, on February 22nd, 2020 at about 9.50 am, the police command received a distress call around Umudim, Umutanse Village in Orlu LGA, that some armed kidnappers had abducted one Tobias Okeke Ugo and also drove away his ash-coloured Toyota Camry car.

The police PRO said police operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) were detailed to respond to the distress call and they nabbed one Chinonso Nnaemeka, aged 27 years of Umutanse Village, Orlu Local Government Area (L.G.A.)

He said that during interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime and led the police to where the lifeless body of Ugo was dumped. Police found the victim in the pool of his own blood with deep machete cuts all over his body, and his car was also recovered.

he further told journalists that while investigation progresses, there is an intensified effort to round up other fleeing members of the gang.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.