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The Rivers State Police Command has recorded major breakthroughs in its ongoing fight against crime, arresting 18 suspects linked to murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, illegal possession of firearms, one-chance robbery and vehicle theft between June and August 2026.
Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, disclosed the achievements during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters in Port Harcourt on Thursday, saying the operations underscored the Command's resolve to rid the state of criminal elements through intelligence-led policing.
The CP announced that operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit arrested three members of the gang responsible for the June 29 attack on police officers at Aluu, where two officers were killed, others injured and two AK-47 rifles stolen.
The arrested suspects were identified as Maduabuchi Emeka, 34; the alleged gang leader, Doctor Chinedu Owhor, 42; and Kamachi Joe, 28, described as the gang's armourer.
According to him, the suspects confessed to the attack and led investigators to their hideout in Omagwa, where the two stolen AK-47 rifles were recovered. He added that efforts were ongoing to arrest a fourth suspect still at large.
On kidnapping, Adepoju said police operatives arrested five members of a syndicate operating in Oyigbo Local Government Area. The suspects include Ezekiel Emmanuel, 44; Chukwuma Mbanefo, 51; Nicholas Diala, 65; and two others.
He said the suspects confessed to carrying out kidnappings in Kom-Kom, Railway, Obeama and Afam communities.
The CP further disclosed that two additional suspects linked to the same network, Anele Ogobogu, 35, identified as the gang's armourer, and Kenneth Eke, 38, were arrested on July 27.
He said an AK-47 rifle and a sub-machine gun were recovered from the suspects, while investigations continued to apprehend other members of the syndicate.
In another operation, police arrested one Boma Dienye Allison, 35, following a complaint by his wife that he threatened her with a firearm.
A search of his residence, according to the CP, led to the recovery of two Beretta pistols, 97 rounds of live ammunition and one live cartridge. The investigation also led to the arrest of two other suspects, Dagogo Abusi, 30, and Richard Tolofari, 33.
Adepoju also announced the arrest of two suspected armed robbers and cultists, Daddy Aleelo, 40, and Destiny Tor-ue, 22.
Items recovered from them included a locally made cut-to-size pistol, a double-barrel pump-action gun and five live cartridges. The suspects reportedly confessed to several criminal activities.
The Command also arrested two members of a one-chance robbery syndicate identified as Uche Samuel, 45, and Nkechi Amadi, 42, who allegedly confessed to the crime.
On vehicle theft, the CP said operatives acting on intelligence intercepted one Andrew Atausi, 49, along Ada George Road in Port Harcourt on August 10 while dressed in military camouflage and driving a Toyota Hilux painted in Army colours.
Investigations revealed that the suspect was not a member of the Armed Forces and was allegedly involved in serial vehicle theft.
Police recovered three suspected stolen Toyota Hilux vehicles without registration numbers, one Toyota Corona Premio with registration number BNY 380 ES, an axe and military accoutrements from the suspect.
Adepoju said investigators also discovered that the engine and chassis numbers of the recovered vehicles had been tampered with.
Summarising the Command's operations, the CP said police arrested 18 suspects and recovered 47 firearms of different calibres, 12 stolen vehicles, 102 rounds of live ammunition, five live cartridges, 11 cutlasses and an axe.
He reaffirmed the Command's commitment to intelligence-driven, proactive and community-oriented policing, noting that it would continue working closely with the military, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other stakeholders to tackle crime.
The CP urged residents to continue providing credible information to security agencies and advised parents to monitor their children and discourage them from engaging in cultism, kidnapping, armed robbery, internet fraud and other criminal activities.
"There is no future in crime. Rivers State will not be a safe haven for criminals. We will find you, dismantle your networks, recover your weapons and ensure you face justice," Adepoju declared.
