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 a.m. along Ipo/Ozaha Farm Road, where they were reportedly planning another kidnapping operation.
According to the PPRO, CSP Grace Iringe-Koko, the arrested suspects were:
Usman Dan-Mama (Male, 20 years), a native of Mubi, Adamawa State
Abdullahi Kabir (Male, 27 years), a native of Damaturu, Yobe State
Idris Ismaila (Male, 20 years), a native of Taraba State
Mohammed Dalandi (Male, 22 years), a native of Yobe State
Upon their arrest, a search conducted on the suspects led to the recovery of the following items:
One locally made pistol
One cut-to-size single barrel gun
Twenty 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, which occurred 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).
Efforts are currently ongoing to arrest other members of the criminal syndicate who are still at large.
The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adewole Adepoju, reiterated the Command’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all residents and urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information that will assist in combating crime across the State.