(DDM) – Police operatives have arrested the prime suspect in the murder of Bayelsa estate agent, Richard Ekpebu, months after the crime shocked residents. Bayelsa
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that Ekpebu, aged 42, was killed in Yenagoa in July following a fraudulent land transaction that turned deadly.
The alleged mastermind, identified as George Idumangi, was tracked down in Lagos on Monday while attempting to secure an international passport to flee Nigeria.
Police investigations revealed that Idumangi collaborated with accomplices, including his girlfriend, Victory Benard, to lure the unsuspecting victim into a fatal trap.
Security operatives recovered rifles, loaded magazines, walkie-talkies, and about ₦9 million suspected to be proceeds of the criminal deal.
The Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police commended officers for their resilience in tracking the fugitive across state lines.
He assured that justice would be served and stressed that the command would not relent in pursuing other suspects linked to the crime.
The brutal killing had earlier sparked outrage among Yenagoa residents, with calls for stronger safeguards against rising property fraud in the state.
Community leaders described Ekpebu as a hardworking agent whose murder highlighted the dangers of unregulated land transactions in the region.
Legal experts say the prosecution of Idumangi and his alleged accomplices will serve as a litmus test for the state’s criminal justice system.
They argued that swift and transparent trial proceedings are necessary to restore public confidence and deter similar crimes.
The police reaffirmed their commitment to dismantling syndicates involved in fraudulent land deals and violent crimes across the Niger Delta.
The arrest is being celebrated by Bayelsa residents who had grown restless over the pace of the investigation.
Observers believe the development could bring closure to the victim’s family while also sending a warning to criminal networks.