Lagos State Police Command is currently
investigating the circumstances surrounding the kidnap and murder of a
20-year-old undergraduate, identified as John Chinedu Okere, who until his
death was a 300 level Electrical Engineering student at Covenant University,
Otta in Ogun State.
According to reports, Chinedu left his parent’s house in the morning of
Wednesday, August 6, 2014, to a Hospital in Yaba, Lagos for medical reasons and
never returned. He reportedly left home with about N6000 and that was the last
time he was seen alive.
The mysterious disappearance of Chinedu, caused a stir as the parents
ran helter-skelter, in search of him to no avail. They gathered
from some family members that one of his friends called on phone earlier that
morning to tell him to meet him at an undisclosed hotel.
KIDNAP
Crime Guard learnt that at
about mid-day,the victim’s father, Jude Okere, received an SMS notifying him
that Chinedu had been kidnapped. Later, he received a phone call from a hidden number demanding N10 million
ransom for the release of his son. The caller allegedly threatened to kill the
victim if the parents refused to comply as the line went dead.
FATHER’S TESTIMONY
Chinedu’s father said: “ At about mid-day, I received an SMS that
John had been kidnapped. Later, I received aphone call from a hidden number. The caller said they had my son, Chinedu and demanded
N10 million as ransom threatening to kill him if we refuse to comply.
Immediately, I inquired who the caller was, the line
went dead. My wife and I quickly reported the case to the Divisional Police
Station at Sabo, Yaba.”
After the case was reported to the Police at Sabo, Yaba, it was later
transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Ikeja the next day where
investigations commenced.
DEAD BODY IN A HOTEL ROOM
It was learnt that initially when the whole issue started, the family of
the victim felt it was a kidnap that would just be resolved but unfortunately,
as events continued to unfold, it turned out to be a premeditated murder.
Shockingly, the decomposing corpse of Chinedu was discovered in one of the
rooms at ‘DE Homes Hotel’ located in Ejigbo by one of their staff, two days
later.
According to reports, the Manager of the hotel went to
Ejigbo Divisional Police Station on Friday, 8, 2014, to reportthe case of murder and investigation began.
HOW SUSPECTS CHECKED INTO HOTEL
A reliable source in the hotel intimated that early on Wednesday
morning, the prime suspect, Okorocha Michael along with another young man
simply identified as Okey,checked into the hotel with the name Christian. “He
booked the room for three days with the name Christian. He claimed he is a
youth corps member who wanted to write exams and would be there from that
Wednesday to Friday. He also said he was expecting his cousin to join him in
the hotel.
‘After booking, Michael left his friend Okey in the hotel and returned an hour before the victim, Chinedu arrived the hotel, which
was at about 3pm that day. As soon as Chinedu arrived the hotel, Michael took
him to the room. We don’t know what happened inside the room. However, it was
later gathered that during their stay in the room, the suspect reportedly
confronted the victim on some personal issues. The confrontation eventually led
to a heated argument, which later led to the suspect strangulating the victim
to death. On Friday, a hotel staff discovered the lifeless body of the young
man and alerted the police.”
ABANDONED IN A POOL OF BLOOD
According to reports, Chinedu was murdered and left in the pool of his
blood by unfriendly friends, who brutally killed and abandoned his corpse, went
ahead and demanded for ransom from his parents.
ARREST OF SUSEPCTS
Crime Guard learnt the 24-year-old suspect,
Okorocha Michael, who was arrested on Sunday, in a friend’s house around Ajah
area in Lagos, is a graduate of Lagos City Polytechnic, Ikeja. He has been
unemployed since he completed his youth service in February this year.
APPEAL FOR JUSTICE
A family member who spoke on the condition of anonymity revealed that
the Okere’s were willing to pay the ransom, and were still trying to get it
when his corpse was discovered. ‘We sincerely pray that law takes it full
course, his killers brought to book and Chinedu will get the justice he
deserves even in death,’ the source stated.
Vanguard
Vanguard
