Published by Osasere Edomwonyi Ikpoba
The Rivers State Police Command has announced a major breakthrough in its fight against urban crime, smashing a notorious one-chance robbery and kidnapping syndicate that had turned the lives of Port Harcourt residents into a nightmare. Fourteen suspects, including two women, have been arrested in a coordinated intelligence-led operation that targeted criminal hideouts across the state capital, dealing a significant blow to a network that combined armed robbery, cultism, and a sophisticated scheme to loot victims' bank accounts.
Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, who paraded the suspects before journalists at the command’s headquarters in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, said the arrests followed a deluge of complaints from members of the public over the activities of daredevil criminals operating within and outside the state capital. The operation, which began on August 18, 2026, was a direct response to what the CP described as "incessant reports of one-chance robbery incidents within the Port Harcourt metropolis and its environs".
The breakthrough came when operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, acting on actionable intelligence, stormed a suspected criminal hideout on Niger Street, Port Harcourt, at about 2:45 a.m. on August 18. There, they arrested Nelson Idakiniselegha, a 30-year-old man also known as "Mandela," who hailed from Nkoro Town in the Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State. During interrogation, Mandela confessed to being a member of a five-man one-chance robbery syndicate and provided crucial information that led to further arrests.
The CP identified the suspects as Nelson Idakiniselegha ‘M’, aka Mandela, 30 years; Michael Matthew ‘M’, aka Pilot, 29 years; Kelly Edison ‘M’, aka BTC, 30 years; Daniel Obodo ‘M’, aka Mazi, 18 years; and Chisom Unegbu ‘M’, aka Favour, 28 years. Adepoju said the command had, in total, arrested 14 suspects linked to one-chance robbery operations across Port Harcourt and its environs.
The investigation uncovered a chillingly efficient criminal enterprise. Mandela, the first suspect, reportedly specialised in a particularly invasive form of theft. After robbing victims, he would extract their SIM cards and use them to facilitate unauthorised withdrawals from their bank accounts, a crime that left many victims not only physically traumatised but also financially devastated. The police also recovered a Keke mini-bus with registration number RGM 823 XE and 16 assorted mobile phones suspected to have been stolen from victims.
The arrests did not stop with Mandela. His confession revealed the existence of another four-man one-chance robbery syndicate operating along the Garrison, Aba Road, Rumuola, Air Force, Rumuokwurusi, Obiri-Ikwerre and Choba axes of Port Harcourt. Further intelligence led to the arrest of Michael Matthew, aka Pilot, on August 23, 2026, at about 10:30 p.m.. Pilot was identified as a member of the Iceland cult group and the ringleader of one of the syndicates operating around Aba Road, East-West Road, Choba and NTA Road axes. Subsequent operations led to the arrests of Kelly Edison and Daniel Obodo at their respective hideouts. On August 24, Chisom Unegbu, aka Favour, was also arrested.
CP Adepoju emphasised that the operation was part of a broader crackdown on criminal elements in the state. He noted that the suspects were also linked to cultism, highlighting the dangerous intersection of gang violence and organised robbery in the region. The commissioner assured the public that efforts were ongoing to identify and arrest other members of the syndicates still at large.
The announcement of the one-chance bust came alongside another major development: the dismissal of four police officers over the fatal shooting of a University of Port Harcourt graduate, Anthony Obodo. The incident, which occurred on August 27, 2026, sparked public outrage and prompted the police to conduct a swift investigation. The CP stated that the officers were subjected to orderly-room proceedings and recommended for dismissal. The dismissed officers are ASP Fabian Kpeanabari, Corporal Alfred Louis, and Police Constable Michael Ejokwu. A fourth officer, Inspector Solomon Nwrogu, who allegedly fled after the incident, has been declared a deserter, and efforts are underway to arrest him. The officers will face criminal charges in court. "No police officer is above the law," Adepoju declared, assuring the public of the command's commitment to accountability and professionalism.
The arrest of the 14 suspects marks a significant victory for the Rivers State Police Command in its battle against urban crime. For the residents of Port Harcourt, who have long lived in fear of one-chance operators, the operation offers a measure of relief. However, as the CP himself noted, the fight is far from over. With other members of the syndicates still at large and the challenge of cult-related violence persisting, the police face an ongoing battle to secure the state. The successful bust, however, sends a clear message: the days of impunity for one-chance robbers in Rivers State are numbered.
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