The Rivers State Police Command, on Thursday, said its officers had arrested four suspects for their alleged involvement in kidnapping in Okocha Community, Igbo-Etche, in the Etche Local Government Area of the State.
The police said the arrests followed complaints by the management of a company, Lujo Heights Homes, that some of its workers on a field inspection were missing.
The spokesperson for the state command, Grace Iringe-Koko, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Thursday, said the suspects, during interrogation, confessed to abducting four staffers of the company.
Iringe-Koko added that the suspects subjected their victims to a harrowing experience, threatening to kill them and demanding the sum of N300m for them to be freed.
She said investigations revealed that the suspects were part of a criminal syndicate operating under the guise of herders, engaging in a series of kidnappings across Rivers and other states in the Niger Delta.
She stated, “The Rivers State Police Command continues to demonstrate its unwavering commitment to combating the menace of kidnapping within the region. In a recent development, an intensive operation conducted by the police has resulted in the successful arrest of five individuals suspected to be involved in various criminal activities, including kidnapping and cultism.
“The investigation was initiated following a report made by the management of Lujo Heights Homes on January 19, 2024.
“The report detailed the disappearance of four staff members during a routine property inspection in Okocha Community, Igbo-Etche, Etche Local Government Area. Despite repeated attempts to establish contact, there was no response from the missing individuals.
“Through meticulous intelligence-gathering efforts, the police apprehended four suspects believed to be connected to the incident.”
While giving the ages of the suspects as between 20 and 33, the police spokesperson added, “The arrested individuals have been identified as Yahaya Bello, Aliyu Usman, Sule Abubakar, and Abdullahi Adamu.
“During questioning, these suspects confessed to their involvement in the abduction of the victims, as well as the subsequent destruction of the Toyota Sequoia SUV they (the victims) were travelling in.
“The victims, who endured a harrowing ordeal in the forests of Etche, recounted being subjected to inhumane treatment and constant threats of death unless a ransom of N300m was paid for their release.
“Investigations revealed that these individuals are part of a criminal network predominantly comprising Fulani individuals operating under the guise of cattle rearers. They have been engaged in a series of kidnappings across Rivers, Delta, and Edo states.”
The statement noted that the suspects took up residence in Valley Decision Estate in Port Harcourt, the state capital, “where they deceitfully convinced the community to grant them access to the land, purportedly for protection against land grabbers.”
“Aliyu Usman, aged 33 and hailing from Kebbi State, emerged as a central figure in the criminal operations. He had been working as a security guard in Valley Decision Estate, Rumukwurushi, facilitating the infiltration of criminals. Aliyu has a previous history of involvement in armed robbery.
“Sule Abubakar, aged 25, was brought into the gang by Aliyu with the aim of strengthening their criminal activities in Port Harcourt. During interrogation, Sule confessed to his participation in his first kidnapping assignment in Edo State, alongside his elder brother who is currently at large.
“Abdullahi Adamu, aged 20, from Taraba State, had recently arrived in Port Harcourt and was undergoing training in criminal operations under the guidance of Aliyu.
“Furthermore, Mallam Yahaya, who had been supplying food to the captors, was also apprehended. He admitted to receiving a sum of N470,000 as his share of the ransom,” she stated.
Iringe-Koko further said the operatives recovered two locally-made pistols, two smartphones, and a black Toyota Sequoia belonging to the gang during the operations.
“Investigations are currently underway to apprehend other members of the criminal network who are still at large,” she added.
