The suspected killers of Rev . Fr . Cyriacus Onunkwo of the Orlu Catholic Diocese , Imo State, were on Thursday paraded by the state Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike .
The prime suspect was identified as a 32-year- old dismissed ex- Corporal Jude Madu , who allegedly masterminded the abduction of the cleric .
The late reverend fathered had returned home to organise the burial of his father , Celestine Onunkwo .
Others are Izuchukwu Okafor , 28, from Ukwukwa , in Azia , Anambra State; Cyril Onyema , 29, from Okwelle, Imo State; Emmanuel Ozuigbo , 29, from Ezeagu in Enugu State; Victor Ikechukwu , 33, from Obowo in Imo State; and Ifechukwu Nwosu , 28, from Azia , Anambra State.
According to the CP , the operation which led to the arrest of the kidnappers cut across Imo , Anambra and Rivers states.
The police boss disclosed that police teams were able to round up the suspects through tracking of the telephone of the slain priest , while his wristwatch was recovered from one of the six suspects.
Ezike said , “ We used forensic technology and backed it up with hard work, commitment , passion and hunger for success .
“ The ex- policeman was arrested with the late reverend father ’ s mobile phone .
“ The policeman, who has been dismissed , is a member of an armed robbery / kidnapping syndicate and took part in the operation . He was arrested on September 5 in Owerri in possession of the deceased’ s phone . He has confessed to the crime .
“ Rev . Fr . Onunkwo was abducted , tied up, while his mouth was covered with a reel of tapes and dumped in the booth of the car used by the hoodlums .
“ He apparently gasped for air and could not make it . This interim finding has yet to be supported with scientific examination which further investigation intends to explore . ”
Ezike said one of the suspects, Okafor , fled to Port Harcourt in Rivers State after the operation .
“ Okafor was arrested on September 6 at Hotel Presidential , Port Harcourt , where he fled after the incident . He has confessed as well , ” Ezike said .
The CP disclosed that another suspect, Onyema , drove the Toyota Avalon ash colour with number plate , ETU 368 AA , used for the operation .
“ This investigation is five days old today (Thursday ). Investigators traversed Anambra , Imo and Rivers states to achieve result , ” Ezike said .
Onyema said they covered the mouth of the priest to stop him from shouting , which led to his death .
The suspect said , “ We didn ’ t know that he was a Catholic priest .
“ It was after we kidnapped him that we found out that he was a priest . He started shouting that he was a priest ; but we covered his mouth . Before we reached our destination, he was dead .
“ The ex- policeman coordinated the operation . I stopped the car when our victim revealed his identity but he ordered me to move . I had to obey him because he was armed. ”
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