In the state’s Oyigbo Local Government Area, the Rivers State Police Command reported that its agents had apprehended five individuals and broken up a kidnapping racket.
The command claims that local operatives carried out a coordinated operation to apprehend the individuals.
Blessing Agabe, the command’s spokeswoman, revealed this in a statement on Thursday in the state capital of Port Harcourt.
During questioning, she added, the suspects admitted to the kidnapping and to intimidating people living in the local government and surrounding areas.
“The Rivers State Police Command has recorded another significant operational success with the arrest of five members of a suspected kidnapping syndicate during a coordinated operation in the state’s Oyigbo Local Government Area,” the statement said.
Five gang members were taken into custody by Rivers State Police Command officers at divisional police station Oyigbo in accordance with orders from Commissioner of Police Olugbenga Adewole Adepoju.
Ezekiel Emmanuel (44 years old) from Benue State, Chukwuma Mbanefor (51 years old) from Anambra State, Nicholas Diala (65 years old) from Imo State, Ndubuisi Uwakwe (49 years old) from Abia State, and Ifeanyi Nwakwo (51 years old) from Imo State are the suspects.
“During the investigation, the suspects acknowledged that they were involved in multiple kidnapping operations within the Kom-Kom, Railway, Obeama, and Afam communities.”
According to the spokeswoman, attempts are still being made to apprehend additional criminal syndicate members.
Regarding the arrest, Adepoju stated that the operation’s success is a result of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu’s operational guidelines and intelligence-driven policing policy.
Adepoju reiterated the command’s steadfast dedication to maintaining vigorous intelligence-led operations against armed robbery, cultism, abduction, and other violent crimes throughout the state.
He cautioned that kidnappers and other criminal elements would not have a safe harbor because the command would persistently seek, apprehend, and make sure they are located, apprehended, and prosecuted.
In addition, the CP reassured locals that the command is unwavering in its commitment to safeguarding people and property. They also urged the public to maintain their vigilance and to continue providing reliable and timely information to help the police prevent crime and capture criminal elements.
