Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have arrested two suspected members of a notorious one-chance robbery and kidnapping syndicate, following a failed attempt to abduct a female passenger in Port Harcourt that ended with the gang's vehicle getting stuck in a ditch and the suspects being cornered by angry residents. The suspects, identified as Uche Samuel, 45, from Omunato Local Government Area of Imo State, and Nkechi Amadi, 42, from Nekede, also in Imo State, were apprehended on Friday night, July 24, 2026, after the vehicle they were using reportedly veered off the road and became trapped in a ditch at Rumuosi, according to a statement by the command's spokesperson, ASP Agabe Blessing Kaborlo.
The incident occurred at about 9 p.m. when a gang comprising two men and two women allegedly attempted to divert a young female passenger through the Rumuekini axis near the flyover. An eyewitness told The Punch that the criminals robbed a lady who boarded a minibus in the Rumuosi axis of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, unaware of who the other occupants were. "Moments later, the lady started shouting and tried to escape from the robbers but was resisted by them. The shouting, the brawl and the voice of the lady, however, attracted passers-by who chased after the speeding vehicle. The driver didn’t know his way and got stuck, and residents started attacking them before the police arrived," the eyewitness said. Residents and passersby reportedly intervened, apprehending two of the suspects before handing them over to the police, while the other two gang members escaped.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Agabe Blessing Kaborlo, confirmed that the suspects had confessed to their involvement in the crime during interrogation, adding that efforts were ongoing to track down and arrest the fleeing members of the syndicate. The command described the arrests as another major breakthrough in its sustained crackdown on one-chance syndicates operating in the state. The arrests were made in line with the directive of the Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adewole Adepoju, to intensify the crackdown on one-chance operators and other violent criminals across the state.
Reacting to the development, CP Adepoju reiterated that the Rivers State Police Command has declared an "onslaught" against one-chance operators and all violent criminals across the state. "There will be no hiding place and no room for one-chance syndicates or any violent criminal in Rivers State. The Command will continue to deploy intelligence-driven policing and proactive operations to identify, arrest and bring offenders to justice," the CP stated. The police commissioner also assured residents of the command's commitment to safeguarding lives and property, while urging members of the public to remain vigilant and provide credible and timely information to assist security agencies in combating crime across the state.
One-chance robbery, a prevalent crime in Port Harcourt and other major Nigerian cities, involves criminals posing as fellow passengers to rob unsuspecting commuters. The suspects typically operate in unmarked vehicles, picking up passengers and then subjecting them to robbery, assault, and sometimes kidnapping. The command had earlier reaffirmed restrictions on tricycle movement from 10:00 p.m. following rising cases of "one-chance" crime across the state. The arrest of the two suspects marks a significant victory in the command's ongoing efforts to rid the state of violent criminals and restore public confidence in the safety of the roads. As investigations continue, the police have warned that there will be no safe haven for criminal elements in Rivers State.
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