Police nab five suspected kidnappers in Rivers

Rivers State Police Command has arrested five suspected kidnappers over the abduction of a 24-year-old woman along the Igwirita–Etche Road in Rivers.

The victim, identified as Chinyere, was reportedly abducted on October 3, 2026, while travelling from Delta State to Port Harcourt to visit a friend.

The police said they received a complaint about the abduction at about 9 a.m. on October 4, prompting operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, Diobu, to launch an investigation that led to the arrest of the suspects.

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The suspects were identified as Gift Okeregwu, 23; Okeregwu Onyekachi, 27; Bright Augustine, 27; Chijoke Nwalozie, 35; and Obinachi Rita, 26.

According to the police, Gift Okeregwu, a native of Okehi community in Etche Local Government Area, was arrested at his hideout along Omuoda Pipeline, Aluu, Port Harcourt. The other suspects were also identified as indigenes of communities in Etche and Rivers State.

The command said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly confessed to their involvement in the kidnapping and provided information about other abduction incidents in Igwirita and Etche.

It added that the suspects allegedly lured victims from within and outside Port Harcourt through online dating platforms before abducting them.

The Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property and ensuring that those involved in kidnapping and other violent crimes were brought to justice.

The police also urged members of the public to exercise caution when interacting with strangers met through online dating platforms, verify their identities before arranging physical meetings, and report suspicious activities to the authorities.