The Rivers State Police Command has arrested two suspected members of a six-man kidnapping syndicate accused of abducting a resident of Port Harcourt and holding him captive for three days.
The suspects were apprehended during an intelligence-led operation conducted by operatives of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU-AKU, at a waterfront hideout in the Borikiri area of Port Harcourt.
The Command’s spokesperson, Blessing Agabe, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday.
According to the statement, the victim, identified as Hassan, was abducted on September 6, 2026, near Fidelity Bank, Garrison, Port Harcourt.
He was allegedly taken to Igbugulu Waterside, Borikiri, where he was held for three days before his relatives reportedly paid N10.3 million in ransom for his release.
The police said they received information about the abduction on September 7 and immediately launched an intelligence-led operation to track down members of the gang.
The statement said the operation subsequently led to the arrest of two suspects believed to be members of the syndicate.
The suspects were identified as 24-year-old Victor Ifeanyi, also known as “Big Boby”, from Aguleri Community, Otuocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, and 36-year-old Aniekan Okon Michael, also known as “Duff Man”, from Ikot Ukpor, Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
Agabe said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects had allegedly confessed to involvement in the kidnapping.
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According to the police, the suspects disclosed that the gang comprised six members and used a white mini-bus, popularly known as a Keke bus, during the operation.
The Command said efforts had been intensified to locate and arrest the remaining members of the alleged syndicate.
“The Command has intensified efforts to apprehend the remaining members of the syndicate and bring them to justice,” Agabe said.
The Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, urged residents to provide credible information that could assist security agencies in identifying and apprehending suspected criminals.
Adepoju assured residents that information provided to the police would be treated confidentially.
He said the Command would continue to deploy intelligence-led operations to dismantle kidnapping syndicates and other criminal networks operating across the state.
The police commissioner also urged residents to remain calm and continue supporting security agencies in efforts to improve safety across Rivers State.