Three suspected kidnappers who had been terrorising innocent persons were on Friday, September 19, arrested by the Rivers State Police Command at different locations in Obio/Akpor and Ikwerre Local Government Areas of the state.
The arrest was in connection with the report of the kidnap of one Humphrey Wagbara of Igwuruta-Atali on August 26.
The suspects were identified as Hassan Mohammed, aged 20, from Wandigah Town in Mandagali, Borno State; Bello Abubakar, aged 25, from Roundabout Maura, Sokoto State; and Yusuf Ahmed, 23 years old, from Hazari LGA, Bauchi State.
Exhibits recovered from the suspects include one G-3 Rifle with breech number 10398, one magazine, one Itel Phone belonging to victim Wagbara, three short daggers, one jack knife, and one stainless short knife.
Thenewsbearer learnt that in recent times, the kidnappers had taken victims as hostages, collecting several millions of naira as ransom before releasing them, while a victim was killed.
It was gathered that on the receipt of the information on Wagbara’s kidnap, operatives of the Command attached to the Anti-Cultism Unit (ACU), Emohua Annex, swiftly acted in a coordinated operation on September 19, leading to the arrest of the three suspects at about 8p.m.
Confirming the arrest in a statement on Monday, September 22, the Rivers Police Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said that the suspects, when interrogated, voluntarily confessed to their involvement in multiple kidnappings in the state.
They confessed to the kidnap of Onwuli Jude and Nwabueze Nchekwube on September 24, 2025, at School Road, Igwuruta-Atali, for which they collected a ransom of N6.9 million before killing Nchekwube.
They also admitted to kidnap of a lady, Mercy Chinyere, on Friday, September 12, at the same location, for which they also collected a ransom of N3.5 million before she was released.
“Suspects and exhibits are currently in police custody. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate and recover additional operational weapons,” the PPRO said.
The Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, Olugbenga Adepoju, who commended the diligence, bravery and dedication of the operatives in the arrests and recovery of exhibits, noted that the outcome of the operation underscored the Command’s unrelenting commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all residents.
He urged the public to report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station or other security agencies.
