Kidnapped man found dead in Anambra forest

Nigerian police

A 48-year-old businessman Angus Okoye who was kidnapped from his house some days ago has been found dead in a forest in Anambra State.

Mr Okoye’s corpse was found at the boundary between Isu Anioma in the Awka North local government area and Nawgu in the Dunukofia local government area of Anambra State.

The victim was said to have been kidnapped from his home in Ifite Isu village, Isu Aniocha on Saturday.

A source in the area who spoke on condition of anonymity said “his kidnap and murder could be linked to the communal crisis in the Isu Aniocha community.”

Anambra Police spokesperson Haruna Mohammed confirmed the story.

“Following a distress call, a police patrol team attached to the Dunukofia Division visited the scene in conjunction with a vigilante group. The victim was photographed and rushed to the hospital, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the victim was one Angus Okoye, aged 48 years. He was allegedly kidnapped from his residence at Ifite Isu village, Isu Aniocha in the Awka North LGA.

“The victim was shot in the head and neck by his assailants and his Honda Pilot SUV with number plate Lagos FST 430 DM was abandoned,” Mr Mohammed said.

The spokesperson added that the incident might be connected to the recent crisis in the Isu Aniocha community in which parties involved were warned by the police not to take the law into their hands.

The victim’s corpse has been deposited in the Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital’s morgue for autopsy.

Mohammed assured that investigation was underway to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident.