2 suspected kidnappers nabbed in Rivers

Police operatives attached to the Anti-Cultism Unit (ACU), Emohua Annex, have arrested two suspected kidnapping kingpins responsible for a series of abductions across Rivers State.

The suspects, identified as Abdullahi Ibrahim (23) and Mohammed Hashim (27), were linked to the January 19 abduction of a woman and three others at Elele Waterside in the Etche Local Government Area.

The Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Wednesday.

She noted that operatives intercepted the suspects along the Ozuzu/Apara Link Road in Etche LGA on January 22, 2026, at approximately 8:49 pm.

She said upon their arrest, the suspects were found with N2,383,000, which was identified as part of the ransom paid by their victims’ families, saying the duo subsequently confessed to several high-profile kidnappings in the state.

According to the command, the suspects admitted to the January 8 abduction of two women from the Akpoku community. They also confessed to the tragic killing of a community youth who was murdered on January 13 while attempting to deliver a N3.8 million ransom.

The command added that its investigation took a violent turn when the suspects led operatives to their hideout. “The operatives were met with strong resistance from other members of the gang. A fierce gun battle ensued, during which the arrested suspects were fatally wounded. Other gang members escaped into the nearby bushes with varying degrees of gunshot wounds,” the command’s PPRO added.

According to her, exhibits recovered from the scene included one pump-action gun and the N2,383,000 ransom money.

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