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The Rivers State Police Command has arrested two suspected members of a six-man kidnapping syndicate allegedly involved in the abduction of a Rivers State resident identified as Mr Hassan.
The suspects were arrested following intelligence-led operations by operatives of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU-AKU).
Hassan was reportedly kidnapped on September 6, 2026, around the vicinity of Fidelity Bank, Garrison, Port Harcourt, and taken to Igbugulu Waterside, Borikiri, where he was held captive for three days.
According to the Police, the victim was released after his relatives allegedly paid ₦10.3 million as ransom.
A statement signed by ASP Blessing Agabe Kaborlo, Police Public Relations Officer, Rivers State Command, said it received credible information about the incident on September 7 and immediately commenced investigations and operations to track down the suspects.
The arrested suspects were identified as 24-year-old Victor Ifeanyi, aka “Big Boby”, a native of Aguleri Community, Otuocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, and 36-year-old Aniekan Okon Michael, aka “Duff Man”, from Ikot Ukpor, Essien Udim LGA of Akwa Ibom State.
Preliminary investigations, according to the Police, revealed that the suspects confessed to their alleged involvement in the kidnapping operation.
The suspects reportedly disclosed that the syndicate comprises six members who allegedly used a white mini-bus, popularly known as Keke bus, during the operation.
The Police said efforts have been intensified to arrest the remaining members of the alleged syndicate and bring them to justice.
Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, CP Olugbenga Adewole Adepoju, urged members of the public to provide credible information that could assist the Police in identifying and apprehending criminal elements.
Adepoju assured residents that information supplied to the Police would be treated with the necessary confidentiality.
He reiterated the Command’s commitment to deploying intelligence-led operations to disrupt kidnapping syndicates and other criminal networks across Rivers State.
The Commissioner also urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies in the fight against crime.
Members of the public requiring emergency assistance or wishing to lodge complaints can contact the Police Complaint Response Unit on 07057605209, 07057605256, 08120822987 or 07072323049.
The Police Control Room can also be reached on 08032003514.
