The Rivers State Police Command has arrested four suspected members of an armed robbery and kidnapping gang and recovered six firearms and 58 rounds of live ammunition during an intelligence-led operation. The command disclosed this in a statement signed by its Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Agabe Blessing Kaborlo, stating…...
The Rivers State Police Command has arrested four suspected members of an armed robbery and kidnapping gang and recovered six firearms and 58 rounds of live ammunition during an intelligence-led operation.
The command disclosed this in a statement signed by its Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Agabe Blessing Kaborlo, stating that the operation was carried out on October 4, 2026, at Rumuekpe Community in Emohua Local Government Area.
According to the statement, the operation followed credible intelligence and was led by the Commander of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Rivers State Command.
The arrests were made in line with the directives of the Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, to intensify raids and targeted operations against criminal elements in the state.
The suspects were identified as Chinemerem Uchewo, Michael Ishaka, Abdulahi George and Gideon Okah, who was subsequently arrested in Owerri, Imo State.
Preliminary investigations linked the suspects to several armed robbery and kidnapping incidents in Choba, Elele Alimini, Emohua and Rumuekpe communities.
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The statement further revealed that the suspects confessed to the robbery and murder of Joseph Onyeka on July 23, 2026, in Rumuji Community.
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They also reportedly confessed to their involvement in the attack and shooting of Inspector Womoma, a police officer attached to the Rivers State Police Command, while he was on duty at a checkpoint along the East-West Road by Elele Alimini Junction on August 4, 2026.
Items recovered from the suspects include two AK-47 rifles, two pump-action rifles, one English-made double-barrel rifle, one locally made revolver pistol and 58 rounds of live ammunition.
The command said it had intensified efforts to arrest fleeing members of the criminal syndicate and bring everyone connected to the alleged crimes to justice.
The Commissioner of Police commended the operatives for their efforts, describing their actions as a demonstration of “courage, professionalism and commitment to combating violent crime in the State.”
He assured residents that the command would continue to intensify “intelligence-led raids, targeted operations and sustained investigations” aimed at dismantling criminal networks and recovering illegal firearms.
Adepoju further advised criminals and their collaborators to desist from criminal activities, warning that the command “will leave no stone unturned in bringing perpetrators of armed robbery, kidnapping and other violent crimes to justice.”
He also urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly provide the police with credible information about suspicious activities in their communities, assuring them that such information “would be treated with utmost confidentiality.”