The Rivers State Police Command has arrested two suspected members of a six-man kidnapping gang allegedly involved in the abduction of a resident in Port Harcourt.
The suspects were arrested around the Borikiri area of the state after operatives of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit launched an intelligence-led operation.
The victim was reportedly abducted on September 6, 2026, around the Fidelity Bank area in Garrison, Port Harcourt, and taken to Igbugulu Waterside, Borikiri, where he was held for three days.
According to the police, the victim regained his freedom after his relatives paid N10.3 million as ransom.
The Command’s spokesperson, Blessing Agabe, disclosed the development in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday.
She said the police received credible information about the abduction the following day and immediately commenced an investigation.
“The Rivers State Police Command has arrested two suspected members of a six-man kidnapping syndicate involved in the abduction of one Mr Hassan, who is a resident of Rivers State,” Agabe said.
She explained that operatives attached to the Violent Crime Response Unit acted on the information and tracked the suspects to their hideout.
“Upon receipt of the information, operatives of the Command Violent Crime Response Unit immediately swung into action and commenced intelligence-led operations, which resulted in the arrest of two suspected members of the syndicate,” she stated.
The suspects were identified as 24-year-old Victor Ifeanyi, also known as “Big Boby,” from Aguleri Community in Otuocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, and 36-year-old Aniekan Okon Michael, popularly known as “Duff Man,” from Ikot Ukpor, Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
The police said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects allegedly admitted involvement in the operation and revealed that the gang had six members.
“They disclosed that the gang comprises six members who used a white mini-bus during the operation,” Agabe added.
The Command said efforts were ongoing to apprehend the remaining members of the syndicate.
The Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, urged residents to provide useful information that could assist security agencies in identifying and arresting suspected criminals.
Adepoju assured members of the public that information supplied to the police would be handled confidentially.
He also said the Command would continue to deploy intelligence-driven operations against kidnapping groups and other criminal networks in the state, while urging residents to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies.
