Rivers Police Arrest Four Suspected Kidnappers, Rescue Abducted Woman

The Rivers State Police Command has arrested four suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate and rescued a 35-year-old woman who was allegedly abducted while attending to customers at her shop.

The command also recovered a white-tinted minibus allegedly used by the suspects during the abduction, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend two other members of the gang who are currently at large.

The breakthrough followed a report made to the police by the victim's husband, identified as Mr Ikechukwu, after armed men allegedly abducted his wife on Friday, July 10, 2026.

According to the police, the woman was attending to customers at her shop when the gunmen reportedly stormed the premises and forcibly took her away in a white-tinted minibus.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Thursday, saying the operation was carried out by operatives of the command's Violent Crime Response Unit following directives from the Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju.

She said the police responded by launching an intelligence-driven operation aimed at tracking down the abductors and securing the victim's safe release.

“Acting on the directives of the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) immediately launched an intelligence-driven operation that led to the arrest of four suspects and the safe rescue of the victim,” Iringe-Koko said.

The suspects arrested by the police were identified as 42-year-old Owhor Chinedu from Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area; 30-year-old Isioto Waribok from Andoni Local Government Area; 34-year-old Maduabuchi Emeka, also from Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area; and 28-year-old Joe Karachi, from Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.

The command said the white minibus allegedly used by the gang in carrying out the abduction was recovered during the operation.

The police further disclosed that preliminary investigations had led to confessions by the arrested suspects regarding their alleged individual roles in the kidnapping.

However, the command said the investigation was still ongoing, with operatives intensifying efforts to apprehend two other suspects who reportedly fled the area.

The police are also working to recover the firearms allegedly used during the operation.

The latest development forms part of the Rivers State Police Command's ongoing efforts to tackle kidnapping and other violent crimes across the state, amid persistent security concerns in parts of the region.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, reassured residents of the command's determination to dismantle criminal networks and bring those responsible for violent crimes to justice.

He also appealed to members of the public to continue supporting security agencies by providing credible and timely information that could assist ongoing investigations and prevent further criminal activities.

The command assured residents that information provided to the police would be treated with the highest level of confidentiality.

The Rivers State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property across the state, while promising that efforts would continue until all those linked to the kidnapping syndicate are brought to justice.