The Rivers State Police Command has rescued a 24-year-old woman and arrested five suspected kidnappers linked to an alleged abduction along the Igwirita–Etche Road.
According to The Guardian, the suspects were apprehended following an investigation by the command’s Violent Crime Response Unit in Diobu, Port Harcourt.
Police identified the rescued woman only as Chinyere.
She reportedly travelled from Delta State to Port Harcourt on October 3 to visit a friend before being abducted.
Police arrest five suspected kidnappers
The command disclosed that it received a report concerning the incident on October 4.
Officers subsequently commenced intelligence gathering to establish the circumstances surrounding the woman’s disappearance.
Police spokesperson Blessing Agabe Kaborlo identified the suspects as Gift Okeregwu, 23; Okeregwu Onyekachi, 27; and Bright Augustine, 27.
Others were identified as Chijoke Nwalozie, 35, and Obinachi Rita, 26.
According to the police, operatives arrested one suspect at a hideout near the Omuoda Pipeline in Allu, Port Harcourt.
Further investigations led to the arrest of the other four suspects.
Police uncover alleged online dating scheme
Investigators alleged that the suspects used online dating platforms to attract victims from within and outside Port Harcourt.
The suspects reportedly arranged meetings with individuals before abducting them.
Police also alleged that the arrested individuals provided information about other suspected kidnapping incidents in Igwirita and Etche.
However, the command did not disclose whether the latest victim’s abductors demanded or received ransom.
Rivers police warn residents
Commissioner of Police Olugbenga Adepoju reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling violent crime.
He advised residents to exercise caution when arranging physical meetings with people contacted through online platforms.
The commissioner also encouraged members of the public to report suspicious activities.
Police investigations are continuing, and the allegations against the suspects remain subject to legal proceedings.
