George Idumangi, the suspected killer of 42-year-old estate agent Richard Ekpebu, tried and failed to escape justice with bribes totaling ₦9 million was nabbed by Operation Puff Adder.
George Idumangi was arrested in Festac Town by the men of the Nigerian Immigration Service in Lagos after he went to collect his processed International Passport which he planned to use to escape from the country.
Both the Police and Immigration agencies collaborated to ensure he doesnt evade arrest again and eventually escape the hands of the law.
CSP Chris Nwaogbo led this sting in collaboration with men of the Area E of the Festac Area Command of the Police and Immigration Service in partnership with Operation Puff Adder
George was allegedly involved in the murder of a popular Estate agent in Bayelsa, Richard Ekpebu earlier in June 2025. According to various sources and information gatheerd by Festaconline Newsmedia, George Idumangi, the prime suspect approached Richard to connect him with clients that he wants to sell his land in Bayelsa. The transaction worked, the buyer paid the sum of N9M, after months George hadnt released the official documents of the property.
Unfortunately, he was lured to a hotel by Georges Girlfriend, 23 – Year – Old Victory Benard Henrywhere he was there after killed and thDays turned into weeks. Richard’s wife confronted George when she became worried , and he provided fake documents of refund of money to richard. He was arrested and later released.
However, The police tracked his financial transactions and uncovered that he transferred N2M to his girlfriend who is an accomplice in the crime
He was arrested in Lagos when he was attempting to move out from the country
In Idumangi’s desperation he offered ₦4 million to immigration and police officers to avoid arrest, ₦2 million to delete incriminating files from his phone, and ₦3 million to destroy the phone altogether. All bribes were firmly rejected, showing that some in our law enforcement refuse to be bought, even in the face of massive temptation.
Festaconline Media gathered that when the team of men of the Operation Puff Adder, led by CSP Chris Nwaogbo, arrived in Lagos to secure his arrest, he also made the same bribe offer and was turned down with serious warnings.
The suspect, with three others, was alleged to have conspired in July 2025 to abduct and murder a 42-year-old estate agent, Richard Ekpebu, in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital
Others alleged to have conspired with George Idumange include one Victor Shadrack, popularly known as Doggy and one Insurance, his real name still unknown, who is known as a beneficiary of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) and member of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Central Zone.
Also arrested is one Ms Victory Benard Henry, from Akwa Ibom and the girlfriend of George Idumangi. She is alleged to be the armourer to the group and was alleged to have benefited the sum of one million naira for her role in the deal.
The deceased agent, Richard Ekpebu, was abducted and murdered on the 24th of July, 2025, with his body dumped in a bush along the new Otuoke road near Bayelsa Palm.
The suspected killer, George Idumangi, hails from the Ogbia Local Government area and claims to be a member of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) worldwide. He was arrested in Lagos while attempting to procure an International Passport at the Immigration office.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), worldwide, led by Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri Snr, has expressed shock over the alleged involvement of some of its members in the heinous murder of the 42-year-old agent.
“Nobody has the right to take the life of another, and the IYC will support the police in their efforts to unravel the circumstances surrounding this murder and ensure that justice is served to serve as a deterrent to others.