Rivers State Police Command says it has arrested three suspected kidnappers linked to the killing of one of their victims after collecting a ransom of ₦6.9 million.
Police spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Monday. She named the suspects as Hassan Mohammed, 20, from Wandigah Town in Mandagali, Borno State; Bello Abubakar, 25, from Roundabout Maura, Sokoto State; and Yusuf Ahmed, 23, from Hazari Local Government Area in Bauchi State.
Iringe-Koko explained that the suspects were arrested after investigations into the abduction of Humphrey Wagbara, a resident of Igwuruta-Atali. She said the three were picked up by operatives of the Anti-Cultism Unit during a coordinated operation in Obio/Akpor and Ikwerre Local Government Areas around 2 am on September 19.
She added that the suspects confessed during questioning that they had carried out several kidnappings in the state.
“On August 26, 2025, the Rivers State Police Command received a report on the abduction of one Humphrey Wagbara of Igwuruta-Atali. Acting on credible information, operatives attached to the Anti-Cultism Unit, Emohua Annex, arrested three suspects at different locations. They confessed to their involvement in multiple kidnappings in the state,” Iringe-Koko said.
She disclosed that the gang was also behind the abduction of Mercy Chinyere on September 12, 2025, at the same Igwuruta-Atali area, where they collected ₦3.5 million before setting her free.
The suspects also confessed to kidnapping Onwuli Jude and Nwabueze Nchekwube on September 24, 2025, at School Road, Igwuruta-Atali. According to the police, after receiving ₦6.9 million ransom, they killed one of the victims.
Recovered from the suspects were a G-3 rifle with breech number 10398, a magazine, an Itel phone belonging to Humphrey Wagbara, three short daggers, one jack knife and a stainless short knife.
Iringe-Koko said the suspects remain in custody while detectives continue to pursue other gang members who are on the run.
She also revealed that the police recently arrested a 48-year-old man, Emmanuel George, accused of defiling a 12-year-old girl in Port Harcourt on September 6, 2025.
