The Rivers State Police Command has arrested three suspected kidnappers alleged to be behind the killing of a victim after collecting a ransom of ₦6.9 million.
Police spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, noting that the arrests followed an intensive investigation by operatives of the Anti-Cultism Unit in Emohua Annex.
Those arrested were identified as 20-year-old Hassan Mohammed from Wandigah, Borno State; 25-year-old Bello Abubakar from Maura, Sokoto State; and 23-year-old Yusuf Ahmed from Hazari, Bauchi State.
According to the statement, the suspects were linked to the abduction of one Humphrey Wagbara of Igwuruta-Atali, who was killed despite his family paying ₦6.9 million in ransom.
“On 26th August 2025, the Command received a distress report of the kidnap of Mr. Humphrey Wagbara. Acting on credible intelligence, our operatives carried out a coordinated operation on 19th September 2025 around 2:00 a.m., leading to the arrest of the suspects in Obio/Akpor and Ikwerre Local Government Areas,” Iringe-Koko stated.
She added that during interrogation, the suspects confessed to several kidnapping operations across the state. Among them was the abduction of one Mercy Chinyere on September 12, 2025, during which the gang collected ₦3.5 million before releasing her.
Recovered items from the suspects included a G-3 rifle, a magazine, three short daggers, a jack knife, a stainless short knife, and an Itel phone belonging to one of their victims.
“The suspects are currently in custody while efforts are ongoing to track down other fleeing members of the gang and recover additional weapons,” the police spokesperson said.
In a related development, the Command also arrested a 48-year-old man, Emmanuel George, for allegedly defiling a 12-year-old girl in Port Harcourt. Iringe-Koko said the suspect lured the child on September 6, 2025, while she was running an errand for her guardian.
She assured residents of Rivers State that the Command remained committed to dismantling criminal syndicates and bringing offenders to justice.
