Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force in Rivers State have arrested four suspected kidnappers allegedly responsible for a series of abductions across several communities in the state.
The suspects were apprehended by officers attached to the Anti-Cultism Unit, Emuoha Annex, in connection with the kidnapping of Favour Chika from Igwuruta community in Ikwerre Local Government Area.
Spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Monday, noting that the arrest followed sustained intelligence-led operations by the police.
According to her, the victim was abducted on February 25, 2026, at about 9:00 a.m. while on her way to her farm and was later released on March 2 after her family allegedly paid a ransom of N3 million.
Iringe-Koko identified the suspects as Usman Dan-Mama, 20, from Mubi in Adamawa State; Abdullahi Kabir, 27, from Damaturu in Yobe State; Idris Ismaila, 20, from Taraba State; and Mohammed Dalandi, 22, from Yobe State.
She said the suspects were arrested in the early hours of the day at about 5:20 a.m. along Ipo/Ozaha Farm Road, where they were allegedly planning another kidnapping operation.
“A search conducted on the suspects led to the recovery of one locally made pistol, one cut-to-size single-barrel gun and 20 live cartridges,” Iringe-Koko said.
During interrogation, the suspects reportedly confessed to carrying out several kidnapping operations within the Igwuruta-Ali, Omagwa, Ozaha, Ipo and Etche Local Government Area axis of the state.
The police spokesperson further disclosed that the suspects admitted to the abduction of Okoro Osita, an engineer, and his friend on February 12, 2026, along Airport Road, Port Harcourt. The victims were later released after their families paid a ransom of N3 million.
Iringe-Koko added that the suspects also confessed to the kidnapping of Sympathy Agu of Umuka-Mba and Chioma Njoku of Obiri, both in Etche Local Government Area. The victims were abducted on January 31, 2026, along Afara/Egwi Road and were released after their families reportedly paid N3 million ransom.
She said efforts were ongoing to apprehend other members of the criminal syndicate who are still at large.
The Rivers State Police Command reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property, urging residents to provide timely and credible information that would aid ongoing efforts to combat crime across the state.
