How Kidnapped Delta Community Monarch's Decomposing Corpse Was Found

Less than 48 hours after the recovery of the decomposing body of the Obi of Ubulu-uku, Edward AkaezeOfulue III, in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State, tears and tension have continued to envelop its residents, including relations of the monarch.


In what has been described as a taboo, the monarch few weeks ago was abducted by suspected kidnappers around Obior and Igbodo communities with his driver, who was said to have escaped into the bush on their way Ubulu-Uku suspected Fulani herdsman. But a few days after, his abductors opened negotiation with his family for a N100m ransom.


It was gathered that while the negotiation lasted, the abductors refused to pick calls, leaving the monarch’s family members, Ubulu-Uku residents and the palace chiefs in fear of the unknown.

It was gathered that while the police including vigilant groups in Obior, and Igbodo communities intensified search for the monarch and his abductors, decomposing body of the monarch was on Thursday night found somewhere in Ekpon community forest, Edo State.

The remains of the body was reportedly recovered by a combined team of Ubulu-uku vigilante group and their counterparts from neigbhouring communities.

Since his abduction, the community vigilante group led by its chairman, James Adoh, had been in search of him, and the whereabouts of his driver.

A visit to the community reveals residents including relations of the monarch were seen in tears, while restriction of movement was put in place by security agents.

”We are in tears, mourning, a taboo has occurred in our town. It is unthinkable that our Obi was abducted and killed in the bush,” a resident, Patrick Odum, who spoke with our correspondent, said.  

It was further gathered that prior to the monarch’s abduction, one of his aides (names withheld) allegedly stole his N700,000 and fled.

Secretary–General of the Ubulu-uku Development Council, Mr. NwanneMemeh, said, “The community vigilante had mobilised alongside other security agents, especially the military on Thursday in search of the abducted Obi, when they got to Mbiri, they were led to one of the forests in the area, but after searching, they could not find the Obi.

"It was some residents in the community, who informed the search party that they suspected there was a decomposing body nearby. "After searching the forest, the search party later found two decomposing bodies, but the vigilante group members were only able to identify the Obi’sbody.”

In a press release, the police spokesperson in the state, Mrs. Celestina Kalu said, “The divisional police division in Igbodo received an information on January 5 that the Obi of Ubulu-Uku was kidnapped alongside a friend.

“Sequel to the report, detectives was mobilised in search of the Obi and possible arrest of the hoodlums. The Jeep in which both victims were travelling in was found abandoned in the bush around Igbodo area.

“Following information from passersby that they saw suspected hoodlums entering the bush where the Jeep was recovered, vigilante men and local hunters were mobilised to join hands with the police in ensuring the rescue of the Obi and apprehension of the kidnappers. The other victim later escaped from their abductors, while efforts have been on to rescue the Obi of Ubulu-Uku.

"However, on January 20, information was received by the DPO,Umunede Division, that two unidentified male corpses in decomposing state were found in a bush within Umunede at the boundary between Delta and Edo states.

Consequently, detectives moved to the scene and photographed the corpses while efforts are on to evacuate the corpses to hospital for autopsy.

“Meanwhile one of the corpses has been identified as that of the Obi of Ubulu-Uku by his family members.

The command wishes to commiserate with the people of Ubulu-Uku kingdom over the unfortunate incident and hereby urged them to remain calm, while assuring them that efforts are being made to fish out the perpetrators of this heinous act.”


Source: Punch
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