Two suspected kidnappers have been arrested by the Rivers State Police Command following the rescue of a kidnap victim in Port Harcourt.
The suspects, identified as Victor Ifeanyi, 24, and Aniekan Okon Michael, 36, were arrested in the Borikiri area of the state.
The police said the duo were part of a six-man gang that allegedly abducted a man near Fidelity Bank in the Garrison area of Port Harcourt on September 6, 2026.
The victim was reportedly taken to Igbugulu Waterside, Borikiri, where he spent three days in captivity before regaining his freedom after his relatives paid ₦10.3 million to the kidnappers.
According to the police, information about the abduction prompted operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit to begin an investigation that eventually led to the arrest of the two suspects.
The Command’s spokesperson, Blessing Agabe, disclosed the arrests in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday.
The statement reads, “The Rivers State Police Command has arrested two suspected members of a six-man kidnapping syndicate involved in the abduction of one Mr Hassan, who is a resident of Rivers State.
“On 7th September 2026, at about 1000hrs, the Command received credible information regarding the kidnapping of the victim, who was abducted on 6th September 2026 in the vicinity of Fidelity Bank, Garrison, Port Harcourt.
“The victim was reportedly taken to Igbugulu Waterside, Borikiri, Port Harcourt, where he was held captive for three days before he was released following the payment of ₦10.3 million ransom by his relatives.
“Upon receipt of the information, operatives of the Command Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU -AKU) immediately swung into action and commenced intelligence-led operations, which resulted in the arrest of two suspected members of the syndicate.”
The police identified Ifeanyi, also known as “Big Boby”, as a native of Aguleri Community in Otuocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, while Michael, also known as “Duff Man”, is from Ikot Ukpor in Essien Udim LGA of Akwa Ibom State.
The Command said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects allegedly admitted their involvement in the crime and provided information about other members of the gang.
The suspects reportedly told investigators that the gang consisted of six people and operated with a white mini-bus, popularly called a Keke bus.
The police said efforts were ongoing to track down the remaining members of the group.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Olugbenga Adepoju, appealed to residents to share credible information that could assist the police in tackling criminal activities.
Adepoju assured residents that such information would be handled confidentially, adding that the Command would sustain intelligence-driven operations against kidnappers and other criminal groups in Rivers State.
