Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have arrested three suspected kidnappers in connection with the murder of a victim after collecting a ransom of ₦6.9 million.
The Command’s spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the arrests in a statement issued on Monday. She identified the suspects as Hassan Mohammed, 20, from Wandigah Town, Mandagali, Borno State; Bello Abubakar, 25, from Roundabout Maura, Sokoto State; and Yusuf Ahmed, 23, from Hazari LGA, Bauchi State.
According to Iringe-Koko, the arrests followed investigations into the abduction of Humphrey Wagbara of Igwuruta-Atali. She explained that operatives of the Anti-Cultism Unit, Emohua Annex, in a coordinated operation, apprehended the suspects at different locations in Obio/Akpor and Ikwerre LGAs on September 19, 2025, at about 2:00 a.m.
The police spokesperson revealed that during interrogation, the suspects confessed to their involvement in multiple kidnappings across the state. Among their victims was Mercy Chinyere, abducted on September 12, 2025, in the same area, for whose release they collected ₦3.5 million ransom.Iringe-Koko further disclosed that the suspects also kidnapped Onwuli Jude and Nwabueze Nchekwube on September 24, 2025, at School Road, Igwuruta-Atali.
Despite receiving ₦6.9 million ransom, they went ahead to kill one of the victims.Items recovered from the suspects include: • One G-3 rifle with breech number 10398 • One magazine • An Itel phone belonging to late victim Humphrey Wagbara • Three short daggers • One jack knife • One stainless short knife“The suspects and exhibits are currently in police custody as detectives intensify efforts to track down fleeing members of the gang and recover more weapons,” Iringe-Koko stated.
Meanwhile, the Rivers Police Command also announced the arrest of Emmanuel George, 48, for allegedly defiling a 12-year-old girl in Port Harcourt. The incident occurred on September 6, 2025, after George reportedly lured the minor while she was running an errand for her aunt.
