The Rivers State Police Command has arrested two suspected members of a six-man kidnapping syndicate and launched a manhunt for the remaining suspects following the abduction of a resident in Port Harcourt.
The suspects, identified as 24-year-old Victor Ifeanyi, also known as “Big Boby”, and 36-year-old Aniekan Okon Michael, alias “Duff Man”, were arrested after an intelligence-led operation by the command’s Violent Crime Response Unit.
The police said the victim was abducted on September 6 near Fidelity Bank, Garrison, Port Harcourt, and taken to Igbugulu Waterside, Borikiri, where he was held for three days.
He was released after his relatives paid N10.3m in ransom.
The command’s spokesperson, Blessing Agabe, said operatives moved in after receiving credible information about the kidnapping and traced the suspects to their hideout.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects confessed to their alleged involvement in the operation and disclosed that the gang comprises six members,” she said.
According to the police, the suspects also disclosed that the gang used a white minibus during the operation.
The command said efforts had been intensified to arrest the four other members of the syndicate.
The Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, urged residents to provide credible information that could assist in tracking criminal networks across the state.
He assured residents that information supplied to the police would be treated confidentially and said the command would continue to deploy intelligence-led operations against kidnappers and other criminal groups.
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