Police arrest 5 friends for beating man to death after collecting ransom
Story by Dajen Comfort Yakubu
Rivers State Police Command has apprehended five suspects connected to the murder of 34-year-old Rowland Horsefall who was declared missing on Sept. 10.
The suspects are Endurance Thompson, 23, Moses Benjamin, 29, Emmanuel Aniete, 32, David Ishaku, 34, and Boma Otonye, 41.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, told journalists in Port Harcourt on Tuesday that the suspects were apprehended after an intensive manhunt.
Iringe-Koko alleged that the suspects abducted Horsefall near the Slaughter Market area of Port Harcourt and later killed him, even after receiving a ransom payment for his release.
“This tragic case began on Nov. 1 when we received a distress call from one Gloria Iyenemi, a resident of Peace Valley Estate, Woji Town, reporting the abduction of her son,” she stated.
According to Iringe-Koko, Horsefall left home around 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 10 to attend meetings at Dr Peter Odili Road and the Government Reserved Area, both in Port Harcourt.
She said that Iyenemi attempted to contact him later that evening when he failed to return home.
“Horsefall answered his mother’s call around 9 p.m., assuring her that he was on his way home.
“However, after a prolonged wait, Iyenemi tried calling again, but all attempts to reach him were unsuccessful,” Iringe-Koko said.
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The police spokesperson said that the following morning, at 5:05 a.m. on Sept. 11, Iyenemi received a call from Horsefall, informing her that he had been abducted.
She said that the kidnappers later demanded a ransom of ₦2.5million for his release, but Iyenemi sent ₦300,000 as part of the ransom.
“Subsequently, the kidnappers sent pictures and voice messages to Horsefall’s girlfriend, threatening to kill him unless she transferred an additional ₦300,000 to his bank account, which she promptly did.
“However, Horsefall was not released” she noted.
Iringe-Koko reported that following the report of the crime, the police launched an investigation, leading to the arrest of Thompson, one of the suspects.
“During interrogation, Thompson confessed to kidnapping Horsefall behind the Port Harcourt Zoo in the Trans Amadi Industrial Area.
“He revealed that after receiving ransom payments, the gang beat the victim to death and dumped his body along Queens/Kings Bakery at Abuloma Road,” Iringe-Koko said.
The police command said that the suspects would be charged in court, while efforts are underway to apprehend other members of the gang who are at large.
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