A Lagos-based motor dealer, Ikechukwu Ebelebe, kidnapped by unknown gunmen, has been found dead.
The victim, who was Chief Executive Officer of Divine-Ike Motors in Lagos and founder of a Non Governmental Organization (NGO), the Divine Iyke Foundation for Humanity, was reportedly kidnapped two weeks ago in his hometown in Owerre-Akokwa in Ideato-North Local Government Area of the state.
Despite collecting N10 million ransom from his family, the kidnappers reportedly killed him and dumped his corpse in the bush at a community in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
A family source, who confirmed the business man’s death to newsmen, said the victim’s corpse had been deposited at the mortuary.
Preferring anonymity, he said: “The villagers living in the locality near the bush where the corpse was dumped started perceiving sudden foul smell in the area.
“And upon investigation, they found the body and with the help of the police operatives, took it to the mortuary where the police confirmed that the corpse was that of the slain businessman.
“The late businessman, until his death, was the Chief Executive Officer of Divine-Ike Motors in Lagos and also ran a foundation named ‘Divine Iyke Foundation for Humanity,’ that cares for the elderly and the needy in the South-East.”
It was gathered that when he was about to go to his state, he was told the Southeast was not safe by his relatives and some of his staff, who advised him to wait a bit.
But was said to have replied them that he had prayed and fasted and that everything will be fine, that he can’t run away from his land.
He was quoted to have said: “If we don’t stop being cowards, speak up, confront and get our land back from those that brought militias and doom to us, we will go homeless.”
The police spokesman for the Imo State, Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the incident to journalists, said the business man’s corpse has been released to the investigating officers from the Imo State.
“The corpse has been released to the investigating officers from Imo State Police Command in the presence of the family members on May 6, 2023, for necessary action.
“Meanwhile, the command is already assisting the investigating officers from Imo State, to get information from the villagers that could help to unravel the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate incident.”