Pastor Arrested Fleeing Nigeria After Allegedly Killing Popular Agent Over N9m Land Deal

Bayelsa State Police have confirmed the arrest of one Pastor George Idumangi, the man who was accused of murdering his friend, Richard Ekpeboh, a real estate agent over a disputed N9 million land deal.

According to the Police, the self-acclaimed pastor was apprehended while attempting to flee the country.

Authorities confirmed on Thursday that Idumangi was apprehended in Lagos and has since been transferred to Bayelsa State, where he will face trial for the alleged crimes.

According to police investigations, the incident originated from a land transaction in which Ekpebu, a renowned land agent and an executive of the real estate union in the state, introduced Idumangi to buyers who paid N9 million for a piece of property. However, after receiving the payment, Idumangi reportedly refused to hand over the land documents.

When Ekpeboh compelled him to release the documents, insisting on keeping to terms of the agreement, Idumangi allegedly conspired with his girlfriend, Victory Bernard Henry, to lure him to a remote bush location where he was killed.

According to a viral video sighted by famousreporters.com which was shared by the popular human rights activist, Martins Vincent Otse alias Verydarkblackman (VDM), Idumangi upon receipt of the alert of N9m (nini million naira) could not produce the power of attorney of the land but promised to issue it to their middle man, late Mr. Richard.

Speaking in the video, VDM said: “Immediately this Pastor received the N9m, he couldn’t produce the power of attorney. When he was asked, he said he only came to be sure that the buyers really wanted to buy the land but didn’t know they would pay immediately. So, he left the documents at home. He then assured them that he would send it to them through Richard, his friend.

“Now, the buyers believed him considering the fact that Richard was a a popular person in the State, and they left.

“So, Richard began to call the pastor and at times he will say he’s busy until one day, he invited Richard to a hotel where he was with his girlfriend and from the hotel, they drove with Richard to a certain bush, pretending to be going to show him a land and that was where they kpaied (murdered) him and wrapped him in a nylon”. He explained.

Reports further indicate that Victory Bernard Henry was given N1 million from the proceeds of the deal. Following the murder, Idumangi attempted to escape Nigeria but was intercepted by law enforcement in Lagos at the last moment.

Bayelsa State Police say the suspect will face the full weight of the law, and investigations are ongoing to determine the extent of his and his accomplice’s involvement.

Meanwhile, the viral video also showed Idumangi’s girlfriend as she was vacating her apartment and among the items recovered from her was a long gun.

BACKGROUND

Earlier, famousreporters.com reported on August 4, that the Bayelsa State Police Command said it had found the remains of Mr. Ekpeboh Richard, the missing real estate magnate, days after he was declared missing.

The decomposing body of Ekpeboh was discovered on Saturday, around 6pm in a swampy forest between the NDDC IDP Camp Road and Otuokpoti, in Ogbia Local Government Area, Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) said.

Richard was the father of the Real Estate
Consultants Association of Bayelsa State,
and a father of two.

He was a native of Amassoma in the Southern Ijaw local government area of the state.

Preliminary reports indicate that Richard was shot in the head at close range, execution-style, and his body was wrapped up in a black nylon and dumped in the forest.

He was last seen on July 24, 2025, after leaving home. His wife raised an alarm around 2 a.m. the following day when he failed to return.

According to family sources, suspicious WhatsApp messages were later sent from his phone, claiming he was fine and asking his wife not to worry. One message promised to transfer money through a PoS operator instead of his usual direct transfers, and ₦15,300 was reportedly sent. The messages also referenced outstanding debts of ₦9 million and ₦3 million allegedly owed to colleagues in the real estate sector.