The Rivers State Police Command has arrested two suspected members of a six-man kidnapping syndicate involved in the abduction of a resident, identified as Mr Hassan. The suspects, Victor Ifeanyi, alias “Big Boby”, and Aniekan Okon Michael, alias “Duff Man”, were arrested by operatives of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit following an intelligence-led operation. The victim was abducted on September 6, 2026, around the vicinity of Fidelity Bank, Garrison, Port Harcourt.
According to the police, the kidnappers took Hassan to Igbugulu Waterside, Borikiri, where he was held captive for three days. The victim was eventually released after his relatives allegedly paid a ransom of ₦10.3 million to the abductors. The police received credible information concerning the incident on September 7, 2026, prompting operatives to commence investigations and intelligence-led operations aimed at identifying those behind the abduction.
The operation led to the arrest of Ifeanyi and Michael, who the police described as suspected members of the kidnapping syndicate. Preliminary investigation revealed that the two suspects allegedly confessed to their involvement in the operation. The suspects also disclosed that the gang consists of six members and that the syndicate used a white mini-bus during the operation.
The police said efforts had been intensified to arrest the remaining members of the syndicate and bring them to justice. The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Agabe Blessing Kaborlo, issued a statement confirming the arrest and the rescue of the victim. The police are working to identify and apprehend the remaining members of the kidnapping syndicate.
The Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, urged members of the public to provide credible information that could assist the police in identifying and apprehending criminal elements in the state. Adepoju assured residents that information supplied to the police would be treated with the necessary confidentiality.
The police boss reiterated the Command’s commitment to deploying intelligence-led operations to disrupt kidnapping syndicates and other criminal networks operating across Rivers State. The Command is working to tackle kidnapping and other violent crimes in the state, and urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies.
The arrest of the two suspected kidnappers is a significant breakthrough in the fight against kidnapping in Rivers State. The police will continue to work tirelessly to identify and bring to justice all individuals involved in kidnapping and other violent crimes in the state.
Key points
- The Rivers State Police Command arrested two suspected kidnappers and rescued a victim after a ₦10.3m ransom payment.
- The kidnapping syndicate used a white mini-bus during the operation and consists of six members.
- The police are working to arrest the remaining members of the syndicate and bring them to justice.
