Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Port Harcourt, Rivers State — In a decisive operation, the Rivers State Police Command has arrested suspected armed robbers linked to a string of tricycle thefts across key communities in Port Harcourt, recovered stolen vehicles and seized a firearm, the Command announced today.
The crackdown follows a distress report lodged on March 19, 2026, at about 2300 hours by 32‑year‑old tricycle operator, Sadiq Gara. Gara informed police at the Octopus Base that the previous day while plying his route in Elelenwo at approximately 0900 hours, he picked up three passengers who compelled him to stop at a secluded location. One of the men then produced a firearm and robbed him of his tricycle before fleeing the scene.
Promptly acting on the distress call, operatives of the Rivers State Police Command launched intelligence‑led operations aimed at tracking down the perpetrators and retrieving the stolen property. Their efforts proved successful when they recovered Gara’s tricycle and subsequently arrested two suspects at a suspected hideout within the Army Range area of Igwuruta. The suspects were identified as 23‑year‑old Abdullahi Mohammed and 25‑year‑old Yusuf Umaru.
In the course of the operation, the police also apprehended 28‑year‑old Mohammed Usman, who is suspected to be a receiver of stolen tricycles from the criminal network.
Upon interrogation, the suspects reportedly confessed to participating in the armed robbery and tricycle theft ring. During searches of their hideout, police recovered several key exhibits, including one locally made pistol, two live cartridges, and two stolen tricycles believed to have been taken from different victims.
Further investigation revealed that the syndicate had been operating across Elelenwo, Igwuruta, Tank, and Woji — all in Greater Port Harcourt — often targeting tricycle operators. Another victim, Ms. Rosemary James, positively identified one of the suspects as part of the gang that had robbed her of her tricycle earlier this year.
Preliminary inquiries suggest that the network has delivered more than twenty stolen tricycles to the alleged receiver, Usman, who reportedly transported the vehicles to destinations including Kano, Bauchi, and Adamawa states for resale. These interstate links have elevated the case beyond isolated theft to organised criminal activity with wider reach.
The Rivers State Police Command said it has intensified ongoing investigations, with efforts currently underway to apprehend additional members of the syndicate and recover more stolen tricycles believed to be in circulation outside the state.
Commissioner of Police for Rivers State Command, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, PSC, MNIPS, used the occasion to advise commercial tricycle operators and the public to be vigilant, particularly during late hours, to avoid picking up suspicious passengers and to report unusual or suspicious behaviour promptly to the nearest police station. He reiterated the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across Rivers State and ensuring that criminal elements are brought to justice.
The Force Public Relations Officer for the Rivers State Command, CSP Grace Iringe‑Koko, ANIPR, issued the official statement on March 24, 2026, underscoring the importance of community‑police collaboration in strengthening security and deterring criminal activities in urban and semi‑urban areas.
The arrest of the suspects and recovery of exhibits mark a significant breakthrough in the fight against organized robbery and theft in Port Harcourt, promising relief to commercial tricycle operators who have been frequent targets of criminal activity in recent months.
Investigation is ongoing as detectives pursue leads to dismantle the wider network and secure additional stolen vehicles.
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