File image of Rivers State Police PRO Grace Iringe-Koko
By Deborah Nnamdi
The Rivers State Police Command has arrested suspected armed robbers linked to a series of tricycle thefts across Elelenwo, Igwuruta, Tank, and Woji areas of Port Harcourt.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, said the arrests followed a complaint lodged on March 19, 2026, at about 11:00 p.m. by a 32-year-old tricycle operator, Sadiq Gara.
According to the statement, Gara reported at Octopus Base that on March 18, 2026, at about 9:00 a.m., he had picked up three passengers while operating in Elelenwo. The passengers allegedly asked him to stop during the trip, and one of them reportedly produced a gun and robbed him of his tricycle.
The command said its operatives immediately launched an investigation and successfully recovered the stolen tricycle.
“Further intelligence-led operations resulted in the arrest of two suspects at their criminal hideout located at Army Range, Igwuruta,” the statement read.
The suspects were identified as Abdullahi Mohammed, 23, and Yusuf Umaru, 25. Another suspect, Mohammed Usman, 28, described as a receiver of stolen items, was also apprehended.
Police said the suspects confessed to the crime during interrogation.
Items recovered from them include a locally made pistol, two live cartridges, and two stolen tricycles.
During the course of the investigation, another victim, Rosemary James, reportedly identified one of the suspects as a member of the gang that had earlier robbed her of her tricycle this year.
Preliminary findings further revealed that the suspects are part of a syndicate responsible for robbing tricycle operators across Elelenwo, Igwuruta, Tank, and Woji axes of the state. The suspects allegedly admitted to delivering more than 20 stolen tricycles to a receiver, who transported them to Kano, Bauchi, and Adamawa states.
The police said investigations are ongoing, with efforts intensified to apprehend other members of the gang and recover additional stolen tricycles.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, advised commercial tricycle operators to remain vigilant, avoid picking up suspicious passengers—especially at odd hours—and promptly report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station.
The command reassured residents of its commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state.
