The tragic murder of Bayelsa real estate agent, Ekpeboh Richard, has shocked the state, with police revealing that his death was tied to a land deal gone wrong.
Richard, 42, was the Vice President of the Real Estate Consultants Association of Bayelsa according to VeryDarkMan, and a father of two. He left home on July 24, 2025, and never returned.
His worried wife later received strange WhatsApp messages claiming he was fine, even inviting her to a hotel, which she couldn’t go because of a sudden illness, but police later confirmed the texts were sent by his abductors. It is assumed, her husband’s abductors wanted to lure her in order to kill her and cover every evidence left.
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Days later, his corpse was discovered in a forest near Otuokpoti, Ogbia Local Government Area, with a bullet wound to the head.
Accordingly, the President of Real Estate Consultants Association of Bayelsa had gone to a forest area to check a property, but met a farmer who warned him of the area, pointing that he heard a gunshot some days earlier and saw a vehicle drive off, so he copied the plate number which he handed to the association president.
Richard’s car, a Toyota Matrix, was stolen, and his slippers was later found near the crime scene, pointing to a struggle before he was executed.
The Land Deal: What Really Happened
Investigations revealed that Richard had introduced a buyer to a land seller, identified as George Idumangi (an old acquinatance). The buyer reportedly paid ₦9 million directly into George’s account. However, trouble began when the buyer demanded the land documents.
Instead of providing the papers after much requests, George allegedly claimed he had already handed them over to Richard. Richard, angered by the false claim, warned George never to drag his name into the matter.
To cover up the lie, George and an accomplice, identified only as Biggy, lured Richard out, with the pretense of giving him the documents, abducted him, and later shot him dead. They allegedly told the buyer that Richard had disappeared with the documents.
Further investigation also revealed that the same piece of land had earlier been sold to the Chief Security Officer of former President Goodluck Jonathan, meaning George had resold the land illegally.
Arrest of the Suspect
Following petitions from Richard’s family over delays in the investigation, the Bayelsa Police Commissioner ordered the case to be handled by Operation Puff Adder. After a week-long manhunt across Lagos, operatives arrested George Idumangi while he was trying to obtain an international passport in a bid to flee the country.
Police also arrested his girlfriend, Victory Bernard, who first contacted Richard about the supposed land deal. She reportedly received ₦1 million for her role. Weapons, including a pump-action rifle, live cartridges, and walkie-talkies, were recovered from her custody.
Confirming the arrest, Bayelsa Commissioner of Police, Francis Idu, said the painstaking investigation ensured justice for Richard’s family. “This was done with real intelligence. I am grateful to the noble people of Bayelsa for their cooperation,” he said.
A Shocking End
What started as a professional introduction between a buyer and a seller ended in betrayal and murder. Richard, a respected realtor and family man, was killed not because of money he owed, but because of a land seller’s greed and lies.
Police say efforts are ongoing to track down George’s accomplice, Biggy, as the case heads to court.
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