An Imo State businessman, Mr Ikechukwu Ebelebe, has been found dead two weeks after he was reportedly kidnapped by gunmen in his hometown in Owerre-Akokwa in Ideato-North Local Government Area of Imo State.

It was gathered that his corpse was found by villagers where it was dumped in a locality in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State and the lifeless body was thereafter deposited at a morgue where it was identified by the police operatives on Saturday.

This is coming after the yet-to-be-identified assailants had reportedly collected N10m ransom from his family.

A source In the area who does not want to be mentioned in print said, “The villagers living in the locality near the bush where the corpse was dumped started perceiving sudden foul smell in the area.

“And upon investigation, they found the body and with the help of the police operatives, took it to the mortuary where the police confirmed that the corpse was that of the slain businessman.”

The late businessman, until his death, was the Chief Executive Officer of Divine-Ike Motors located in Lagos and he also ran a foundation named “Divine Iyke Foundation for Humanity” that cares for the elderly and the needy in the South-East.

Confirming the development to our correspondent on Sunday, the Anambra state police spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the corpse has been released to the investigating officers from the Imo state police command.

“The corpse has been released to the investigating officers from Imo State Police command in the presence of the family members on May 6, 2023, for necessary action.

“Meanwhile, the command is already assisting the investigating officers from Imo State, to get information from the villagers that could help to unravel the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate incident.” (The PUNCH)

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