BY FESTUS AHON

UGHELLI – A Magistrate court in Ozoro, Isoko North Council Area, Delta State, has remanded a 74 years old traditional chief and six other persons in prison custody over their alleged involvement in the abduction and murder of a retired school Principal, Mr. Frederick Dick Ogbo.

The suspects whose names were given as Mr, Michael Osioni, Sunday Otuedor, Peter Ogude, aka Galaxy, Efe Okoro, Oghale Osioni, Michael Akpoeni and Oke Okwebe were arrested by the police in Asaba.

According to a reliable source from the deceased family, the suspects were charged to court after police investigations allegedly revealed that they were involved in the abduction and murder of late Frederick Ogbo on 7th July, 2011.

The source who pleaded anonymity, said the suspects were remanded in prison by the Magistrate Court in Ozoro on 30th November and 29th December, 2011over their alleged involvement in the abduction and subsequent killing of  the deceased.

The source, who was visibly in pains while narrating the story to newsmen, said the corps of the retired principal was found already decomposing around Ovurede-Ushe area, near Ozoro on July 13 after the abductors had allegedly collected N350,000 from the family as ransom  purportedly for his release.

Disclosing that the deceased, Mr Frederick Ogbo was allegedly abducted in Ozoro by the suspects along Ozoro-Owhelogbo road in the local government area, the source said abandoned bloodstained vehicle was also later recovered by the police

The source said luck however ran out on his alleged abductors/murders when one of them who was arrested for pipeline vandalism disclosed to  the police how Late Frederick Ogbo was kidnapped and killed, leading to the arrest of other members of the gang.

According to the source, upon the arrest of members of the syndicate, the suspects allegedly confessed to the police that they were hired by some family members of Frederick Ogbo to abduct and kill him over documents relating to a family land containing oil wells presently being operated by an oil company (name withheld).

Speaking further, the source said, the Police investigations into the matter led to the arrest and detention of the traditional chief and some members of the family, lamenting that some of the suspects were still at large.

Contacted, Mr Charles Muka, PPRO, Delta State Police Command could not confirm the incident, saying; “is quite a long time you are quoting and you know I cannot document everything in my brain.”