The Rivers State Police Command has arrested four suspected members of an armed robbery and kidnapping syndicate allegedly operating across communities in Obio/Akpor and Emohua Local Government Areas of the state.
The police said the operation led to the recovery of two AK-47 rifles, two pump-action rifles, an English-made double-barrel rifle, a locally made revolver pistol and 58 rounds of live ammunition.
The command’s spokesperson, ASP Blessing Agabe, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
Agabe said the arrests followed intelligence gathering and directives by the Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, to intensify raids and targeted operations against criminal elements.
According to the statement, operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit arrested some of the suspects during an operation at Rumuekpe community in Emohua Local Government Area on October 4, 2026.
“The Rivers State Police Command has arrested four suspected members of an armed robbery and kidnapping gang, recovered several firearms and ammunition following an intelligence-led operation,” the statement read.
The suspects were identified as Chinemerem Uchewo, from Rumuekpe community in Emohua LGA; Michael Ishaka, from Adabor community in Eket LGA, Akwa Ibom State; Abdulahi George, from Oduoha community in Emohua LGA; and Gideon Okah, from Elele Alimini community in Emohua LGA, who was arrested in Owerri, Imo State.
Agabe said preliminary investigations linked the suspects to several armed robbery and kidnapping incidents in Choba, Elele Alimini, Emohua and Rumuekpe communities.
She added that the suspects allegedly confessed to the robbery and murder of Joseph Onyeka in Rumuji community on July 23, 2026, as well as the shooting of a police inspector during an attack on a checkpoint along the East-West Road near Elele Alimini Junction on August 4, 2026.
“The suspects also confessed to the robbery and murder of Joseph Onyeka on 23rd July 2026 in Rumuji Community, as well as the attack and shooting of Inspector Womoma, attached to the Rivers State Police Command, while on duty at a checkpoint along the East-West Road by Elele Alimini Junction on 4th August 2026,” the statement added.
The police spokesperson said efforts had been intensified to apprehend other members of the alleged syndicate who remained at large.
“The Command has intensified efforts to arrest the fleeing criminal syndicate and bring all those connected to the criminal activities to justice,” she said.
Meanwhile, Adepoju commended the operatives for their courage, professionalism and commitment to tackling violent crime in the state.
He assured residents that the command would sustain intelligence-led operations and investigations to dismantle criminal networks and recover illegal firearms.
The commissioner also warned criminals and their collaborators to desist from unlawful activities, adding that the police would continue efforts to bring perpetrators of armed robbery, kidnapping and other violent crimes to justice.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and provide credible information about suspicious activities in their communities, assuring them that such information would be treated confidentially.