Real Estate Magnate Murdered in Bayelsa; Police Recover Body
The Bayelsa State Police Command has recovered the body of a missing 43-year-old real estate magnate, Ekpeboh Richard, who was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head. Richard, the Vice Chairman of the Real Estate Consultants Association of Bayelsa, was married with two children.
The timeline of events is as follows:
Disappearance: Richard went missing on July 24, 2025, after leaving his home. His wife grew concerned when he did not return and was unreachable by phone.
Deceptive Communication: Several days after his disappearance, Richard's wife began receiving unusual WhatsApp messages from his phone. The messages claimed he was fine and asked her not to worry. They also mentioned he owed N12 million to two individuals in his association and that he would send money through a POS agent—an uncharacteristic method for him. Police later determined that Richard's abductors were using his phone to mislead his family and buy time.
Discovery of the Body: On Saturday evening, August 2, 2025, operatives from the Bayelsa State Police Command's Rapid Response Unit located Richard's decomposing body. It was found in a forest situated between the New NDDC Road and Otuokpoti in the Ogbia Local Government Area.
Manner of Death: The police report indicates that Richard was killed in an "execution-style" manner, with a single gunshot to the head. Evidence of a struggle, including footwear, was discovered near the scene.
Ongoing Investigation: The homicide department of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) has taken over the case. Investigators are pursuing two primary leads: a potential business deal that went wrong involving members of his association, or his possible involvement in a failed cybercrime or money laundering transaction. According to an eyewitness and intelligence reports, two young men in a blue Honda V-boot car were seen dragging Richard into the forest. Two gunshots were heard before the assailants fled the scene, stealing his Toyota Matrix car.
I'm Aisha shehu
Talksocialtalka News
