The Rivers State Police Command has arrested five suspected kidnappers accused of using online dating platforms to lure unsuspecting victims into captivity, rescuing a 24-year-old woman allegedly abducted after travelling from Delta State to Port Harcourt.
The suspects were reportedly arrested following an intelligence-led operation by operatives of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Diobu, after the police received a complaint about the victim’s abduction along the Igwuruta-Etche Road in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police Blessing Agabe, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
According to Agabe, the victim, identified as Chinyere, travelled from Delta State to Port Harcourt on October 3, 2026, to visit a friend but was allegedly kidnapped along the Igwuruta-Etche Road.
She said the police received a report of the abduction at about 9am on October 4, prompting the Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, to direct operatives to track down those responsible and secure the victim’s release.
“Upon receipt of the complaint, the operatives of the Command Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Diobu, immediately swung into action and arrested the perpetrators of this crime,” the statement said.
Agabe explained that investigations following the arrests revealed that the suspects allegedly used online dating sites to establish contact with potential victims before luring them to locations where they could be abducted.
She added that the suspects reportedly confessed to their involvement in the crime during interrogation and provided information about other kidnapping incidents in the Igwuruta and Etche areas.
“During investigation, the suspects confessed to their involvement in the kidnapping and disclosed information about other kidnapping incidents within Igwuruta and Etche.
“They further disclosed that they lured victims from within and outside Port Harcourt through online dating sites before abducting them,” she said.
The police spokesperson did not disclose the identities of the five suspects or provide further details about the circumstances surrounding the victim’s rescue.
The arrests come amid concerns over the use of social media and online platforms by criminals to establish contact with unsuspecting individuals and exploit their trust.
While online dating platforms provide opportunities for people to meet and develop relationships, security concerns may arise when individuals agree to meet strangers without adequate precautions or verification.
Agabe consequently urged members of the public to exercise caution when interacting with people they meet online, particularly when arranging physical meetings with individuals whose identities and intentions have not been independently verified.
She advised residents to remain security-conscious and promptly report suspicious activities to the police.
The Command said the operation followed the directive of Commissioner of Police Adepoju, who has tasked operatives with responding to criminal complaints and apprehending those responsible for kidnapping and other violent crimes in the state.
The police have not disclosed whether additional suspects are being sought in connection with the alleged kidnapping network or when the arrested individuals will be formally charged in court.
