The Rivers State Police Command said its operatives have arrested three suspected kidnappers who allegedly killed two of their victims after collecting a total ransom of N10.4m.

The police said the arrest of the suspects followed a distress call on the kidnapping of another victim identified as Humphrey Wagbara, in Igwuruta-Atali in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.

The command said the suspects, aged between 20 and 25 years, were responsible for various abductions in Port Harcourt and its environs.

The spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday.

She said operatives from the Anti-Cultism Unit responded swiftly to the distress call and nabbed the trio in their hideouts in Ohio/Akpor, and Ikwerre Local Government Areas of the state.

The state police image maker said the suspects confessed to the murder of two of their victims even after they had collected the ransom.

The statement reads, “On August 26, 2025, the Rivers State Police Command received a distressing report, suggesting the kidnapping of one Humphrey Wagbara, ‘m’, of Igwuruta-Atali.

“Operatives of the command attached to the Anti-Cultism Unit, Emohua Annex, acting on this information and in a daring and coordinated operation on September 19, 2025, at about 0200hrs, arrested three suspects at different locations in Obio/Akpor and Ikwerre Local Government Areas of the state in connection with the kidnapping of the victim.”

She gave the names of the suspects as Hassan Mohammed, 20 years old, from Wandigah Town in Madagali, Adamawa State; Bello Abubakar, 25 years old, from Roundabout Maura, Sokoto State and Yusuf Ahmed, 23 years old, from Hazari LGA, Bauchi State.

“During interrogation, the suspects voluntarily confessed to their involvement in multiple kidnappings in the state, including:

“They kidnapped one Onwuli Jude and Nwabueze Nchekwube on September 24, 2025, at School Road, Igwuruta-Atali, where they collected a ransom of N6,900,000 before killing Nwabueze Nchekwube.

“They kidnapped one Mercy Chinyere ‘f’ on September 12, 2025, at the same location, where they also collected a ransom of N3,500,000 before releasing her,” Iringe-Koko added.

She listed the exhibits recovered from the suspects to include one G-3 Rifle with a Breech number ‘10398,’ one magazine, one Itel Phone belonging to Humphrey Wagbara, a kidnapped victim.

Other items she said are three Short Daggers, one Jack Knife, one Stainless Short Knife.

The statement continued, “Suspects and exhibits are currently in Police custody. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate and recover additional operational weapons. “

Speaking, the state Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, commended the diligence, bravery, and dedication of the operatives in making the arrests and recovering exhibits.

Adepoju noted that the outcome of the operation underscores the command’s unrelenting commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens of the state, and urged residents to report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station or other security agencies for prompt action. (The PUNCH, but headline rejigged)