Police Arrest Suspected Armed Robbers, Recover Firearms, Stolen Tricycles in Rivers

The Rivers State Police Command has arrested suspected armed robbers linked to a series of tricycle thefts across Elelenwo, Igwuruta, Tank, and Woji areas of Port Harcourt.

The arrest followed a complaint lodged on Thursday March 19, 2026, by a 32-year-old tricycle operator, Sadiq Gara, at Octopus Base.

Gara reported that on March 18, 2026, at about 9:00 a.m., while operating in Elelenwo, he picked up three passengers who later asked him to stop at a point. One of the passengers then produced a firearm and robbed him of his tricycle.

Acting swiftly on the report, police operatives recovered the stolen tricycle and launched intelligence-led operations that led to the arrest of two suspects at their hideout in Army Range, Igwuruta.

The suspects are Abdullahi Mohammed, 23, and Yusuf Umaru, 25.

Police also arrested a third suspect, Mohammed Usman, 28, believed to be a receiver of stolen items.

During interrogation, the suspects reportedly confessed to the crime. Items recovered from the suspects include one locally made pistol, two live cartridges, and two stolen tricycles.

In the course of investigations, another victim, Rosemary James, identified one of the suspects as a member of the gang that had earlier robbed her of her tricycle this year.

Preliminary findings according to the Police, indicate that the suspects are part of a syndicate responsible for robbing tricycle operators across the affected areas.

The suspects also admitted to delivering over 20 stolen tricycles to the receiver, who allegedly transported them to Kano, Bauchi, and Adamawa States.

The Police said investigations are ongoing, with efforts intensified to arrest other members of the gang and recover more stolen tricycles.

The State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, advised members of the public, particularly commercial tricycle operators, to remain vigilant, avoid picking up suspicious passengers, especially at odd hours, and report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station.

The Command reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of lives and property across the state.