The Bayelsa State Police Command has confirmed the recovery of the lifeless body of a missing real estate consultant, Ekpeboh Richard, who was found dead with a gunshot wound in a forest along the New NDDC Road in Ogbia Local Government Area.
According to the police, officers of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) discovered the body around 6 p.m. on Saturday. Preliminary investigations revealed that Richard had been shot in the head in what appears to be an execution-style killing before his body was dumped in the bush.
Richard, who was the Vice Chairman of the Real Estate Consultants Association of Bayelsa, had been reported missing by his family earlier in the week. A native of Ammassoma in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, he was married and had two children.
He reportedly left home on July 24, 2025. His wife became concerned when he failed to return and her calls went unanswered for days. Eventually, she received a message from his phone assuring her he was fine and requesting that she not raise an alarm. The message also mentioned a debt of N12 million owed to two individuals and claimed a POS transfer of N15,300 was made, though not to her account.
However, suspicions grew after further strange communications, leading family and friends to suspect foul play. They reported the matter to the police, prompting the RRS, led by CSP Bishop Elemide, to investigate.
Working with intelligence reports, local youth, and an eyewitness account, the RRS uncovered that two young men in a blue Honda car had abducted Richard, dragged him into the forest, and shot him. The suspects fled the scene with his Toyota Matrix vehicle. Evidence of a struggle, including a pair of footwear, was found near the crime scene.
The State Criminal Investigation Department’s Homicide Unit is reportedly handling the case, with investigators actively working on leads to apprehend those responsible.
