The Rivers State Police Command has arrested five suspected kidnappers and rescued a 24-year-old woman abducted along the Igwirita–Etche Road.
The victim, identified as Chinyere, reportedly travelled from Delta State to Port Harcourt on October 3, 2026, to visit a friend before she was kidnapped.
Police spokesperson, Assistant Superintendent of Police Blessing Agabe, disclosed the arrests in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
According to the police, the command received a report of the abduction on October 4, prompting Commissioner of Police Olugbenga Adepoju to direct operatives to track down those responsible.
Officers from the Violent Crime Response Unit in Diobu subsequently arrested five suspects allegedly connected to the crime.
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The suspects were identified as Gift Okeregwu, 23; Okeregwu Onyekachi, 27; Bright Augustine, 27; Chijoke Nwalozie, 35; and Obinachi Rita, 26.
Gift Okeregwu was reportedly arrested at a hideout along Omuoda Pipeline in the Allu area of Port Harcourt. The suspects are from different communities in Rivers State.
During questioning, the suspects allegedly admitted involvement in the kidnapping and provided information about other abduction cases around Igwirita and Etche.
Police said the suspects also disclosed that they used online dating platforms to attract victims from within and outside Port Harcourt before abducting them.
The Commissioner of Police reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting residents and bringing those involved in kidnapping and other violent crimes to justice.
Adepoju also advised members of the public to be careful when meeting people they encounter on dating platforms. He urged them to verify identities before arranging physical meetings and report suspicious activities to the police.
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