Police Rescue Kidnap Victim After N10.3m Ransom Payment in Rivers, Arrest Two Suspects

The Rivers State Police Command has arrested two suspected members of a six-man kidnapping syndicate linked to the abduction of a man in Port Harcourt who was released after his relatives paid N10.3 million ransom.

Daniel Momodu · October 5, 2026 · 33

The Rivers State Police Command has rescued a kidnap victim and arrested two suspected members of a six-man kidnapping syndicate operating in Port Harcourt.

The command’s spokesperson, ASP Blessing Agabe, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday.

Agabe said the victim, identified as Hassan, was abducted on September 6 in the vicinity of Fidelity Bank, Garrison, Port Harcourt, and taken to Igbugulu Waterside in the Borikiri area.

She said the victim was held captive for three days before being released after his relatives paid N10.3 million ransom.

According to her, the command received credible information about the abduction on September 7, prompting operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit to commence an intelligence-led operation.

The operation subsequently led to the arrest of two suspected members of the syndicate.

The suspects were identified as 24-year-old Victor Ifeanyi, also known as “Big Boby”, a native of Aguleri Community in Otuocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, and 36-year-old Aniekan Okon Michael, also known as “Duff Man”, from Ikot Ukpor in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

The police said preliminary investigations showed that the suspects confessed to their alleged involvement in the operation and disclosed that the gang comprised six members who used a white minibus during the abduction.

The command said efforts had been intensified to apprehend the remaining members of the syndicate and bring them to justice.

The Commissioner of Police in Rivers, Olugbenga Adepoju, urged members of the public to provide credible information that could assist security agencies in identifying and apprehending criminal elements.

Adepoju assured residents that information provided to the police would be treated confidentially.

He also said the command would continue to deploy intelligence-led operations to disrupt kidnapping syndicates and other criminal networks across the state, while urging residents to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies.