By Deborah Nnamdi
The Rivers State Police Command has arrested two suspected members of an armed robbery syndicate accused of targeting and luring young women through hook-up arrangements to hotel rooms in Port Harcourt.
The suspects, identified as 27-year-old Albert Koko-ete Hanson, a married man, and 18-year-old Wisdom Okon, both from Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, were apprehended following a rescue operation involving hotel security personnel.
One of the victims, who identified herself simply as Faith, recounted her ordeal to journalists. She said she was contacted by a hotel staff member who informed her that a guest required her services. On arrival at the hotel, she was directed to a two-bedroom apartment where the suspects were lodged.
Faith alleged that the men showed her a photograph of another woman, claiming she had collected N5 million from them, and demanded that she pay the money. She said they seized her mobile phone and forced her to reveal her password in a bid to access her bank account, but found no money in it.
She further disclosed that before her arrival, another female victim had been tied up and blindfolded inside the toilet. According to her, the suspects brought the victim out, stripped and assaulted both women, tied them up again and threatened to harvest their organs.
Faith said a third female victim who was later brought into the apartment managed to send a distress message to her friends within the same hotel while the suspects were attempting to force her to disclose her bank application password. The friends reportedly alerted hotel security personnel, who intervened and rescued the three women.
The prime suspect, Albert Koko-ete, allegedly confessed to the crime.
Confirming the arrest, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Command, CSP Grace Iringe-Koko, said the suspects specialised in targeting young women they perceived to be affluent. She stated that they often singled out women carrying high-end mobile phones, such as iPhone 15 and above, believing they could extort substantial sums from them or their relatives.
Iringe-Koko further disclosed that the prime suspect allegedly made over N18 million in six years from the criminal operation.
The police spokesperson warned young women against engaging in prostitution, popularly known as hook-up, citing the dangers associated with such activities. She advised them to acquire legitimate skills to improve their livelihoods and stated that the suspects would be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations.
