Police Arrest Five Suspected Kidnappers in Rivers
The Nigeria Police Force, Rivers State Command has arrested five suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate during a coordinated security operation in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State.
According to a statement issued on Thursday August 6, 2026 by the Police Public Relations Officer, Agabe Blessing, the suspects were apprehended by operatives of the Oyigbo Divisional Police Station following directives from the Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju.
The suspects were identified as Ezekiel Emmanuel, a 44 year old male from Benue State, Chukwuma Mbanefor, a 51 year old male from Anambra State, Nicholas Diala, a 65 year old male from Imo State, Ndubuisi Uwakwe, a 49 year old male from Abia State, and Ifeanyi Nwakwo, a 51 year old male from Imo State.
Police said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects confessed to participating in several kidnapping operations in Kom-Kom, Railway, Obeama and Afam communities. They also admitted to their involvement in the kidnapping activities for which they were arrested. The Command disclosed that efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the suspected criminal syndicate.
Reacting to the development, the State’s Commissioner of Police Olugbenga Adepoju said the arrests demonstrate the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing and the operational directives of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu.
He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to intensifying operations against kidnapping, cultism, armed robbery and other violent crimes across Rivers State, warning that there would be no hiding place for criminal elements.
The Commissioner also urged residents to remain vigilant and continue to support the police with credible and timely information to aid crime prevention and the arrest of offenders.
