A young and promising automobile engineer, popularly known as Ikemefula, who had recently gotten married, was found dead in a shallow grave in Otulu, Mgbidi forest, Oru-West Local Government Area of Imo State. He had been missing for five months after being kidnapped in the area.

Ikemefula was kidnapped in November 2025 and killed by his abductors after a ransom of N7 million was paid.

Operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit (AKU), also known as Tiger Base, of the Imo State Police Command, led the operation on Thursday and discovered the victim’s remains buried in a shallow grave in the forest.

The operation was carried out under the command of Unit Commander ACP Oladimeji Odeyeyiwa, alongside tactical operatives led by Inspector Chika Okebata.

The body was recovered from a shallow grave in Otulu, Mgbidi forest, approximately five months after the tragic incident.

According to police findings, the prime suspect, one Odidika Okwuegbulem, a notorious kidnapping kingpin from the same Mgbidi area, abducted the victim and collected a ransom of N7 million, including his Highlander Jeep.

Despite the ransom payment, the victim was said to have died in captivity within seven days while being held in a forest hideout used by the syndicate.

Odidika who spoke to newsmen confessed that he killed the late Ikemefula because “he was becoming very successful in his automobile business and he was showing off his wealth.”

Odidika further alleged that he was contracted by one ThankGod Ezegbuo, the former employer of the deceased, who allegedly offered him N1.5 million for the operation but paid only N500,000, leaving a balance of N1 million.

He further disclosed that he and ThankGod, conspired to bury the deceased in a shallow grave in the forest.

The suspects claimed that the death of the victim was not intentional, stating that they had planned to release him before his demise.

However, after his death, both suspects allegedly agreed to conceal the crime by burying the body at a location in the forest.

Both suspects were moved to the crime scene by the operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, where the body was exhumed.

The remains have since been deposited at the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Owerri, for further examination.

In another development one suspected member of a kidnapping syndicate, identified as Mmiri, has been allegedly neutralised, while another high profile suspect, known as Uraatu, has been declared wanted by the police. (The Nation, excluding headline)

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