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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