By Deborah Nnamdi
Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have arrested three suspected kidnappers linked to the killing of one of their victims after collecting a ransom of N6.9 million.
The Command’s spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, identifying the suspects as Hassan Mohammed, 20, from Wandigah Town, Mandagali, Borno State; Bello Abubakar, 25, from Roundabout Maura, Sokoto State; and Yusuf Ahmed, 23, from Hazari LGA, Bauchi State.
She explained that the arrests followed investigations into the abduction of one Humphrey Wagbara of Igwuruta-Atali. The suspects were apprehended on September 19, 2025, during a coordinated operation by operatives of the Anti-Cultism Unit in Obio/Akpor and Ikwerre local government areas of the state.
According to Iringe-Koko, the suspects confessed to their involvement in several kidnappings across the state, including the abduction of Mercy Chinyere on September 12, 2025, for which they collected N3.5 million before releasing her.
“They also admitted to kidnapping Onwuli Jude and Nwabueze Nchekwube on September 24, 2025, at School Road, Igwuruta-Atali, where they collected a ransom of N6.9 million but still killed the victim,” the statement added.
Items recovered from the suspects include a G-3 rifle with breech number 10398, one magazine, an Itel phone belonging to a kidnapped victim, three short daggers, a jack knife, and a stainless steel short knife.
Iringe-Koko further said the suspects are in custody while detectives intensify efforts to track down other fleeing members of the syndicate and recover additional weapons.
