Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have apprehended four suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate during a targeted operation aimed at dismantling a criminal gang linked to a series of abductions across the state.
Authorities also recovered firearms believed to have been used in their operations.
The development was disclosed on Monday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, who stated that the suspects were arrested while allegedly preparing to carry out another kidnapping mission.
According to Iringe-Koko, the arrests followed investigations into the abduction of Miss Favour Chika, who was kidnapped on February 25, 2026, in Igwuruta Community in Ikwerre Local Government Area.
She explained that the victim regained her freedom on March 2 after her family reportedly paid a ransom of ₦3 million.
The police spokesperson 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, also from Yobe State.
She added that a search carried out after their arrest led to the recovery of one locally made pistol, a cut-to-size single-barrel gun, and twenty live cartridges.
Preliminary interrogation, she said, revealed that the suspects admitted involvement in several kidnapping incidents across the Igwuruta-Ali, Omagwa, Ozaha, Ipo, and Etche areas of the state.
She said, “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.
“The arrested suspects are:
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.”
Iringe-Koko further stated that the suspects admitted involvement in the abduction of Sympathy Agu of Umuka-Mba, Etche, and Chioma Njoku of Obiri, Etche. The victims were reportedly kidnapped on January 31, 2026, along the Afara/Egwi Road in Etche Local Government Area, and were later released after their families allegedly paid a ransom totalling ₦3 million.
He added that efforts are ongoing to track down and apprehend other members of the criminal syndicate who remain at large.
“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 police spokesperson reiterated the commitment of the Rivers State Commissioner of Police to protecting lives and property across the state. She also urged residents to continue supporting security agencies with credible and timely information, noting that public cooperation remains crucial in the ongoing fight against crime in Rivers State.
