The Rivers State Police Command says it has dismantled a suspected kidnapping gang with the arrest of four suspects and the rescue of a woman who was abducted in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state.
The victim was reportedly taken from her shop in Aluu community while attending to customers before being driven away by the abductors.
Police said a swift intelligence-led operation led to her rescue and the recovery of the vehicle allegedly used by the gang.
The operation was launched after the victim’s husband, identified as Mr Ikechukwu, reported the incident to the police.
In a statement released on Thursday, the command’s spokesperson, ASP Grace Iringe-Koko Agabe, said the suspects confessed to taking part in the crime.
“The Rivers State Police Command has recorded another major breakthrough in its fight against kidnapping and other violent crimes with the arrest of four suspected members of a notorious kidnapping syndicate, the safe rescue of the victim and the recovery of the gang’s operational vehicle.
“The operation followed a report by Mr Ikechukwu, who informed the police that his wife, Mrs Ikechukwu, 35, was abducted by armed men on Saturday, July 11, 2026, while attending to customers at her shop.
“The kidnappers reportedly whisked her away in a white-tinted mini-bus.
“Acting swiftly on the report, operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit of the Rivers State Police Command launched an intensive intelligence-driven investigation, following the directives of the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, Olugbenga Adepoju, and arrested the perpetrators of the crime.”
The police identified the suspects as Owhor Chinedu, Isioto Waribok, Maduabuchi Emeka and Joe Karachi.
According to the command, officers also recovered a white mini-bus believed to have been used during the abduction.
“Exhibit recovered includes a white mini-bus used in carrying out the abduction.
“Preliminary investigation indicates that all four suspects have confessed to their individual roles in the crime.
“Efforts have been intensified to apprehend the two remaining members of the syndicate who are currently at large and to recover the firearms used during the operation.”
The Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, said the command remains determined to rid Rivers State of kidnappers and other violent criminals.
He appealed to members of the public to continue sharing credible information with security agencies, assuring residents that all useful tips would be handled confidentially as efforts continue to track down the remaining suspects.
