The Bayelsa State Police Command has arrested George Idumangi, the suspected mastermind behind the abduction and killing of estate agent, Richard Ekpebu, whose body was discovered on July 24, 2025, along the New Otuoke Road near Bayelsa Palm.
Idumangi, who claimed to be a member of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), was apprehended in Lagos while attempting to obtain an international passport.
His arrest followed renewed investigations after Ekpebu’s family petitioned the police over alleged delays in the case.
The State Commissioner of Police, Francis Idu, transferred the matter to the command’s Operation Puff Adder Tactical Squad, led by Chris Nwaogbo.
For over a week, operatives trailed the suspect across Lekki, Ikorodu, Festac, Ikeja, and Orile in Lagos before eventually capturing him.
During the operation, police recovered a pump action gun, five live cartridges, two empty AK-47 magazines, 10 walkie-talkies, chargers, and rifle slings from the suspect’s girlfriend, who was also arrested in Yenagoa.
Investigations revealed that the deceased had introduced Idumangi to a land buyer, who paid N9 million directly into the suspect’s account.
Trouble began when the buyer demanded land documents, prompting a dispute that eventually led to Ekpebu’s abduction and murder.
Police sources said Idumangi, alongside accomplices identified as “Doggy” and “Insurance,” lured the victim out of his home before killing him in a bid to conceal fraudulent dealings in the land transaction.
It was further discovered that the land had already been sold to another buyer before it was resold.
Confirming the arrest, Commissioner Idu commended the operatives for their efforts, stating: “After painstaking intelligence and law enforcement measures, we successfully apprehended George Idumangi in Lagos as he attempted to flee the country.
This breakthrough underscores our commitment to justice.”