Police arrest five for kidnapping in Rivers

Yahaya Bello, Aliyu Usman, Sule Abubakar, and Abdullahi Adamu have been apprehended by the police on charges of abducting four employees who were tasked with inspecting property in the Okocha community, Igbo-Etche, Etche Local Government Area, Rivers State. 

Additionally, the police detained a man named Godfrey Odum on suspicion of abducting Precious Chukwu, an Elechi Amadi Polytechnic student. 

In a statement, Grace Iringe-Koko, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), said that the fear demonstrated the police's steadfast dedication to battling the threat of kidnapping in the State. 

The statement added that on January 19, 2024, the administration of Lujo Heights Homes lodged a report, which prompted the investigation that resulted in the kidnappers' arrest.

The police said: “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. 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 were traveling 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 NGN 300,000,000 was paid for their release.

“Investigations  revealed that these individuals are part of a criminal network predominantly comprised of Fulani individuals operating under the guise of cattle rearers, they have been engaged in a series of kidnappings across Rivers, Delta, and Edo states. 

“In Port Harcourt, they had taken up residence in Valley Decision Estate, where they deceitfully convinced the community to grant them access to the land, purportedly for protection against land grabbers”.

According to the police's profile of the suspects, Aliyu Usman, a 33-year-old Kebbi State resident, became involved in the criminal operations and was employed as a security guard at Valley Decision Estate in Rumukwurushi, which allowed criminals to infiltrate the area.

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