Tactical team of the police command in Bayelsa State, Operation Puff Adder, has successfully tracked and arrested fleeing murder suspect who tried to pin a N9 million land scam on his victim he abducted and killed him.

Led by CSP Chris Nwaogbo, Operation Puff Adder which was charged with investigation of the case reportedly tracked the suspect whose name is given as George Idumangi, from Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State as he maneuvered his way under the radar in attempt to flee the country.

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Police sources stated that Idumangi was arrested in Lagos State for alleged abduction and murder of 42-year-old estate agent, Richard Ekpebu, whose body was discovered in a bush in July. The suspected killer of Ekpebu was arrested at the office of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) in Lagos as he tried to obtain international passport to enable him flee the country.

Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, Francis Idu, had charged the Operation Puff Adder with the investigation and resolution of the murder case which is directly related to a land scam involving N9 million.

Investigators reported positive link between the suspect and instruments of armed violence as he made irregular movements from Bayelsa State to several cities in Lagos State where he was finalizing plans to flee from the country.

The police stated that George Idumangi had his footprints through Ikorodu, Lekki, Orile, Festac and Ikeja areas Lagos State before his arrest. Two phones allegedly used in planning the alleged murder were declared found on the suspect at the time of his arrest.

“After painstaking intelligence and law enforcement measures, Mr George Idumangi, who murdered Mr Richard Ekpebu at Bayelsa Palm, was arrested this morning in Lagos while trying to flee the country. This was achieved with real intelligence. I am grateful to the noble people of Bayelsa and the Prosperity Government,” the CP Ide stated.

Earlier arrested in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State, was Idumangi’s girlfriend identified as 23-year-old Victory Benard Henry. She is alleged to keep arms and munitions for Idumangi, and police declared items found in her custody to include three AK-47 rifle slings, one pump-action rifle, two empty AK-47 magazines, five live cartridges, 10 walkie-talkies and 10 chargers.

The young woman allegedly collected N1 million lure the victim to slaughter to buy a land through Idumangi as secondary agent.  Idumangi allegedly collected payment pf N9 million from his client without remitting to the land owner; and killed Ekpebu in order to cook a false narrative that his victim had absconded with money and land documents.

Trouble began when the buyer demanded land documents from Ekpebu, who denied knowledge of the payment.

The disputes arising from the land deal led to direct confrontations; and the suspect together with accomplices including Victor Shadrack who is popularly called Doggy and one Insurance allegedly lured Ekpebu out of his house, abducted him, and killed him to cover up their false claim that the agent had absconded with the land documents.