Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
The Rivers State Police Command has rescued a kidnapped victim and arrested a 23-year-old suspect in the Eliozu–Rumuokoro axis of Port Harcourt, recovering an AK-47 rifle and a tricycle used by the gang during a coordinated operation that demonstrates the command’s renewed emphasis on rapid response and intelligence-led policing.
The operation began at about 10:15 p.m. on September 24, 2026, when the command received a distress call that a person had been abducted by a group of criminals. According to a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Saturday by the command’s spokesperson, Blessing Agabe, the Convoy Patrol Team stationed at Eliozu acted swiftly on the report, sighted the suspected kidnappers and immediately gave them a hot chase towards Rumuokoro, by Eligbolu. In line with the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adewole Adepoju, operatives of the Special Area Division swiftly mobilised and intercepted the fleeing suspects. The coordinated operation resulted in the arrest of one of the suspected kidnappers and the successful rescue of the kidnapped victim, identified as Mr. Emmanuel, who was subsequently secured for necessary medical attention.
The arrested suspect was identified as Sunday Rufus, aged 23, a native of Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State. Exhibits recovered during the operation include one AK-47 rifle, two rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, and one white tricycle popularly known as Keke, with registration number PHC 756 ZY. The recovery of an AK-47 rifle is significant because it is a weapon typically associated with more sophisticated criminal networks, and its seizure represents a tangible disruption of the gang’s operational capacity. The command said efforts were ongoing to apprehend other members of the criminal gang who fled the scene.
The Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, said Rivers State would not be a safe haven for criminals, stressing that the command would sustain intelligence-driven and coordinated operations against kidnappers and other criminal elements across the state. He commended the officers and operatives involved in the successful operation for their prompt response, courage and professionalism. He, however, urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue to provide credible and timely information to the police, saying community cooperation remained vital in the collective effort to prevent and combat kidnapping and other violent crimes in the state.
The operation is the latest in a series of police interventions against kidnapping in Rivers State, a state that has become a flashpoint for abduction-for-ransom in Nigeria’s South-South region. According to data from the Nigeria Risk Index, Rivers State recorded 203 kidnapping incidents between 2018 and May 2026, with a trend described as a high increase compared with the 2018–2021 period. In July 2026, the police command arrested four suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate and rescued a woman abducted from her shop in the state. In April 2026, operatives rescued one Chukwudekwu Emmanuel, a Lagos-based resident who was abducted in Etche Local Government Area while on a visit from Lagos. In January 2026, the police arrested 26-year-old Goodnews Iberi after recovering the corpse of a kidnap victim, Rita Special Eleonu, from a forest in Emohua Local Government Area. The pattern reflects the persistent threat posed by kidnapping networks that operate across the state’s riverine and urban communities, often using tricycles and motorcycles to move victims quickly through congested areas.
The Eliozu–Rumuokoro axis, where the latest operation took place, is a densely populated corridor in Port Harcourt that has witnessed a series of criminal incidents in 2026. In April, the police arrested a 24-year-old man for the alleged kidnapping and rape of a woman he met online in the Eliozu area. The corridor’s proximity to major roads, its busy commercial activity and the presence of informal settlements make it a challenging environment for law enforcement, where criminals can blend into the population and move victims rapidly. The use of a tricycle in the September 24 abduction is consistent with the tactics of kidnapping gangs in the state, who favour small, manoeuvrable vehicles capable of navigating narrow streets and evading police pursuit.
The command’s response on September 24 illustrates the importance of the convoy patrol system and the Special Area Division’s capacity to mobilise quickly. The patrol team’s initial sighting of the suspects and the subsequent coordinated interception by the Special Area Division demonstrate the value of maintaining a police presence in high-risk corridors and of ensuring that specialised units are prepared to respond to distress calls in real time. The recovery of the AK-47 rifle, in addition to the tricycle, provides investigators with material evidence that could assist in tracing the gang’s supply chain and identifying other members. The command said efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects, and the suspect in custody is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
For the victim, Mr. Emmanuel, the rescue brought an end to what could have been a prolonged captivity. The police said he was secured for necessary medical attention, though the nature and extent of any injuries were not disclosed. The command’s decision to prioritise his medical care reflects a growing recognition of the trauma that kidnapping inflicts on victims and the need for a comprehensive response that extends beyond the arrest of suspects to the rehabilitation of survivors.
The operation comes amid a broader national conversation about the state of security in Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, and the governorship and state assembly elections for February 6. Political violence, banditry and kidnapping have become central campaign issues, and the conduct of security agencies will be a key factor in public confidence in the electoral process. The Rivers State Police Command has demonstrated a sustained operational tempo in 2026, recording multiple arrests and rescues across the state, and the latest success adds to that record. As CP Adepoju put it, Rivers State will not be a safe haven for criminals, and the command will sustain the pressure on criminal networks until they are denied the ability to threaten communities.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments