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
It was 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
It was 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.
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