Police rescue kidnap victim after ₦10.3m ransom payment in Rivers, arrest suspects

The Rivers State Police Command said its operatives have arrested two suspected kidnappers in the Borikiri axis of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The police said the suspects are members of a six-man syndicate that abducted a lady at the premises of a new commercial bank in the metropolis and held her captive for three days.

The victim’s family later paid a ransom of N10.3 million before the police swooped in on the miscreants.

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

Agabe said that, acting on a distress call, the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit responded promptly and stormed the hideout of the kidnappers at a waterfront.

The statement reads, “The Rivers State Police Command has arrested two suspected members of a six-man kidnapping syndicate involved in the abduction of one Mr Hassan, who is a resident of Rivers State.

“On 7th September 2026, at about 1000hrs, the Command received credible information regarding the kidnapping of the victim, who was abducted on 6th September 2026 in the vicinity of Fidelity Bank, Garrison, Port Harcourt.

“The victim was reportedly taken to Igbugulu Waterside, Borikiri, Port Harcourt, where he was held captive for three days before he was released following the payment of ₦10.3 million ransom by his relatives.

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“Upon receipt of the information, operatives of the Command Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU -AKU) immediately swung into action and commenced intelligence-led operations, which resulted in the arrest of two suspected members of the syndicate.”

She named the suspects as one Victor Ifeanyi, male, 24 years, aka “Big Boby,” a native of Aguleri Community, Otuocha LGA, Anambra State; and one Aniekan Okon Michael, male, 36 years, aka “Duff Man,” a native of Ikot Ukpor, Essien Udim LGA, Akwa Ibom State.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects confessed to their alleged involvement in the operation and disclosed that the gang comprises six members who used a white mini-bus (Keke bus) during the operation.

“The Command has intensified efforts to apprehend the remaining members of the syndicate and bring them to justice,” the spokesperson added.

The State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, called on members of the public to provide credible information to help the police identify and apprehend criminal elements, assuring them that the police will treat such information with the necessary confidentiality.

Adepoju reiterated that the Command will 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.