The Rivers State Police Command has arrested four suspected kidnappers and rescued a female abductee during a rescue intervention in effort to curb terrorism in the area.
The suspects, Owhor Chinedu, 42, Isioto Waribok, 30, Maduabuchi Emeka, 34, and Joe Karachi, 28, were apprehended after operatives of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) launched an intelligence-led operation following the abduction of the 35-year-old woman from her shop in the state, leading to the dismantling of part of the kidnapping syndicate.
The operation began after the husband of the rescued victim, identified as Ikechukwu, reported to the police that his wife had been abducted by the armed men on Saturday, July 11, 2026, while attending to customers at her shop, after which the assailants forced the victim into a white tinted mini-bus and fled the scene.
Acting on the report, the VCRU commenced an intensive investigation on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, after which the abducted woman was recovered unharmed while the vehicle allegedly vehicle was also taken off the scene.
Speaking on the successful operation on Thursday, the Command’s spokesperson, Grace Kaborlo, said preliminary investigations showed that all four suspects had confessed to their respective roles in the kidnapping.
Kaborlo added that efforts had been intensified to apprehend two other members of the syndicate who remain at large and to recover the firearms allegedly used during the operation.
Commending the operatives for the successful rescue and arrests, Commissioner of Police Olugbenga Adepoju reaffirmed the Command’s determination to rid Rivers State of kidnappers and other violent criminals.
He urged residents to continue supporting the police by providing timely, credible and actionable intelligence, assuring them that all information supplied would be treated with the strictest confidentiality.
The Commissioner reiterated that the Rivers State Police Command remains committed to protecting lives and property and would continue to deploy all lawful strategies to ensure that criminal elements are identified, arrested and prosecuted.