The Rivers State Police Command said its operatives have arrested four suspected kidnappers who have been terrorising Ikwerre and Etche local government areas of the state and its environs.
According to the police, their arrest followed a discreet investigation into the abduction of a lady on February 25, 2026, who the miscreants released a week later after her family paid N3 million as ransom.
The command said the suspects were eventually nabbed by operatives of the Anti-Cultism Unit along the Ipo/Ozaha Farm Road in the state while they were about executing another kidnapping operation.
Spokesperson of the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday and sent to newsmen.
Iringe-Koko said the suspects, including two 20-year-olds, also claimed responsibility for two previous kidnapping incidents, including the abduction of an engineer and his friend along the Port Harcourt International Airport Road, and collected millions of Naira as ransom before allowing the two men to breathe the air of freedom.
The statement reads, “The Rivers State Police Command has recorded a significant breakthrough in its ongoing efforts to combat kidnapping and other violent crimes across the State.
“This development follows the earlier kidnapping of one Miss Favour Chika of Igwuruta Community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.
“The victim was abducted on 25th February 2026 at about 9:00 a.m. while on her way to her farm and was later released on 2nd March 2026 after a ransom of Three Million Naira (₦3,000,000) was reportedly paid by her family.
“Acting on credible intelligence and sustained operational efforts, Police operatives attached to the Anti-Cultism Unit Emuohia Annex, successfully tracked and arrested four suspects on the early hours of the day at about 5:20 am along Ipo/Ozaha Farm Road, where they were reportedly planning another kidnapping operation.”
She gave the names of the arrested suspects as Usman Dan-Mama (20-years-old), a native of Mubi, Adamawa State
Abdullahi Kabir, aged 27, from Damaturu, Yobe State; Idris Ismaila, aged 20, a native of Taraba State; and 22-year-old Mohammed Dalandi, a native of Yobe State.
The state police image maker continued, “Upon their arrest, a search was conducted on the suspects, which led to the recovery of the following items: one locally made pistol, one cut-to-size single-barreled gun and 20 live cartridges.
“During interrogation, the suspects reportedly confessed to carrying out several kidnapping operations within the Igwuruta-Ali, Omagwa, Ozaha, Ipo, and Etche axis of Rivers State.
“The suspects further admitted to being responsible for the abduction of one Engr. Okoro Osita and his friend, who were on 12th February 2026 along Airport Road, Port Harcourt.
“The victims were later released after the payment of a ransom of Three Million Naira (₦3,000,000) by their families. They also confessed to the kidnapping of one Sympathy Agu of Umuka-Mba, Etche, and one Chioma Njoku of Obiri, Etche.
“That incident occurred on 31st January 2026 along Afara/Egwi Road in Etche Local Government Area, where the victims were also released after their families paid a ransom of Three Million Naira (₦3,000,000),” she stated.
The statement further said efforts are currently ongoing to arrest other members of the criminal syndicate who are still at large, saying the command will not rest until they are apprehended and meant to face the law.
Meanwhile, the State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adewole Adepoju, has reiterated his commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all residents.
Adepoju commended the operatives for their efforts and called on members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information that will assist in combating crime across the state.
