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 a phone 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 report the 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 take it
full course, his killers brought to book and Chinedu will get the
justice he deserves even in death,’ the source stated.
Culled from Vanguard