The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 31-year-old man, Kelechi Wufurum, for allegedly killing a commercial bus driver, Ifeanyi Abobo, in Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state.
The 51-year-old victim was reportedly lured to Ubima under the pretext of a transport job, unaware that Wufurum had malicious intentions.
State Police Command Spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, revealed this while speaking to journalists at the command headquarters along Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, on Tuesday.
According to Iringe-Koko, the suspect and victim initially clashed before Wufurum attacked the minibus driver with a cutlass near a forest and subsequently sold the vehicle for N2.4 million.
“She stated, ‘He hit him on the head and when the victim tried to resist, he now used a cutlass and hit him on the head. The victim collapsed, so he now zoomed off with his mini-bus and sold the bus and his mobile phone.’
“Following the report, the Police Special Operations and Intelligence Team carried out a discreet investigation and arrested the suspect. Those who purchased the victim’s vehicle and phone were also apprehended.”
Wufurum, who confessed to the crime, described how he lured Abobo into the bush, overpowered him, and took his minibus.
“I negotiated with a bus driver that we are going to work. When we got to the place (location), I used a stick to hit him to prevent him from attacking me. When he (suspect) collected another stick to me, I now hit him and took his vehicle,” he said.
Our correspondent reports that the suspect’s cousin, Azubuike Oyemechi, who helped facilitate the sale, and the vehicle buyer, Ugo Ikenna, also gave accounts of their involvement to journalists.
Dennis Naku is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with nearly 19 years of experience, having reported for Champion Newspapers and National Mirror, covering multiple beats and demonstrating strong newsroom expertise.
