The police command in Ebonyi has announced the death of Francis Igwe, the father of former Ebonyi State deputy governor Kelechi Igwe.

The police said in a statement by its spokesperson, SP Joshua Ukandu, on Friday that Mr Igwe died in his abductors’ den.

Mr Ukandu explained that the victim died on March 2, before the rescue team of the Nigeria Police Force could reach there.

The former deputy governor’s father was kidnapped on March 1 on his way to church in the Ndufu-Alike community, Ikwo local government area of Ebonyi.

The command’s PPRO said the police neutralised one and arrested nine suspects in connection with the crime.

“Through the deployment of technical and intelligence assets, operatives arrested two suspects identified as members of the kidnapping syndicate.

“During interrogation, the suspects confessed that the victim had been killed on March 2,” said Mr Ukandu.

According to him, the arrested suspects led operatives to the kidnappers’ hideout to recover the remains of the victim.

“However, upon approaching the hideout, other members of the gang opened fire on the operatives. The operatives responded with superior firepower, which overwhelmed the gang.

“In the course of the confrontation, one of the hoodlums was neutralised, while others fled the scene. Subsequently, seven additional suspects were arrested, and one locally made pistol was recovered from them,” he said.

The police spokesperson said the remains of the victim had been deposited at the morgue for autopsy.

He added that the suspects were in police custody, as efforts are ongoing to arrest fleeing members.

(NAN)