Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have arrested two suspected kidnapping kingpins and recovered over N2.3 million believed to be part of ransom payments collected from victims’ families.
The arrests were carried out by officers of the Anti-Cultism Unit (ACU), Emohua Annex, following credible intelligence linking the suspects to several kidnapping incidents in Etche Local Government Area.
Police said the abduction of a female victim and three others occurred on January 19, 2026, at Elele Waterside in Etche LGA.
The suspects, identified as Abdullah Ibrahim, 23, from Akwanga LGA of Nasarawa State, and Mohammed Hashim, 27, from Tafawa Balewa LGA of Bauchi State, were arrested on January 22 at about 8:49 p.m.
A search conducted during the operation led to the recovery of N2,383,000, suspected to be part of ransom payments made by families of the victims.
The Police Public Relations Officer of Rivers State, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed that during preliminary interrogation, the suspects confessed to participating in multiple kidnapping operations.
She also mentioned that the suspects were involved in the abduction of two female victims in Akpoku community, Etche, on January 8, 2026.
It was revealed that the gang was linked to the killing of a youth member of the community who was delivering a ransom of N3.8 million on January 13.
Police operatives reportedly encountered armed resistance from other gang members during the operation, resulting in a gun duel before the suspects were eventually apprehended.
Items recovered from the suspects include a pump-action gun and the N2.38 million cash believed to be ransom proceeds.
The command stated that efforts are ongoing to arrest other members of the gang who remain at large.
Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, commended the operatives for their bravery and urged residents to continue providing useful information to support the fight against crime in the state.