The Rivers State Police Command has apprehended five suspected cultists for allegedly killing a 34-year-old man, Rowland Horsfall, after accusing him of generating a fake alert for hard drugs purchased from them in the Trans-Amadi area of Port Harcourt.
The command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed in a statement on Tuesday that the suspects, identified as members of the Iceland cult group, also extorted ransom from the victim’s mother, even after killing him.
Iringe-Koko revealed that the cultists initially demanded a ransom of N2.5 million from Horsfall’s mother, who unknowingly transferred N300,000 to her son’s account, unaware he had already been killed.
Suspicious of their demands, she contacted the police, prompting swift action.
According to Iringe-Koko, the ordeal began on September 10, 2024, when Horsfall left his residence in Peace Valley Estate, Woji, to attend meetings in Port Harcourt.
Later that evening, he informed his mother via phone that he was heading home.
However, the following morning, Horsfall called his mother, stating he was being held hostage, and demanded N300,000 to retrieve his seized phone.
Shortly after, the abductors raised the demand to N2.5 million, threatening dire consequences if their demands were not met.
“They sent threatening pictures and voice notes to the victim’s girlfriend, warning that Horsfall would be killed if the ransom wasn’t paid promptly,” the statement read.
Despite paying the N300,000, the victim remained in captivity.
The suspects eventually beat him to death and dumped his remains along Queens/Kings Bakery, Abuloma Road, Port Harcourt.
Acting on the mother’s complaint, police operatives launched an operation and arrested the prime suspect, Endurance Friday Thompson, in Woji Town on November 3, 2024.
During interrogation, Thompson confessed to the crime, detailing how he and his gang members held Horsfall captive, killed him after failing to secure the ransom, and disposed of his body.
Other arrested suspects include, Boma Otonye a.k.a. Excess Chief (41), David Link Ishaku a.k.a. Biggy (34), Moses Nsikak Benjamin a.k.a. Aboy (29) and Emmanuel Aniete (32)
All the suspects reportedly confessed to the crime, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the gang.
Iringe-Koko, advised youths to be cautious about their associations and movements to avoid falling victim to criminal elements.
“The command has intensified its manhunt for the remaining suspects to ensure they face the full wrath of the law,” she added.
