In a bid to checkmate activities of kidnappers, armed robbers and other criminal elements, the Rivers State Police Command raids forests and waterfronts in the Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state, just as the Council Chairman, Charles Wobodo commends the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu
By Jude Nzennaya, Port Harcourt
The Rivers State Police Command has beefed up security in Isiokpo and other places in the Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state as combined operatives of the Nigeria Police Mobile Force stormed forests, bushes and waterfronts to flush out kidnappers, armed robbers and bandits.
Chairman of Ikwerre Council, Charles Wobodo, received the security high command in his office at Isiokpo after a successful Operation Ember Month Clearance exercise carried out on October 19, 2026.
The operation, ordered by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Tunji Disu, covered Obodo-Isiokpo, Elele, Ubima, Omerelu, Omuanwa, Omagwa, Omademe, Ozuaha, Apani and the Elele-Omerelu-Owerri Road link to IPO, Etche and Igwuruta.
Speaking to the operatives, Charles Wobodo commended the Police leadership for its swift intervention in Ikwerre’s security challenges, no Government Succeeds Without Security, saying, “No government can do without security. We have taken security of Ikwerre as our number one priority. With your presence, our people will feel safe at home.”
He assured that his administration will continue to fund and support all security efforts to sustain peace and protect lives and property.
Commander of the operation, ACP Israel Ukpong, said the IGP gave a clear directive: Go into the forests, bushes and waters and fish out criminals from their hideouts across the 23 councils of Rivers State.
“We were fully equipped with weapons and ammunition. The operation in Ikwerre LGA was successful,” Ukpong affirmed, urging residents to volunteer timely information that would lead to effective neutralization of all criminal elements.
Commanding Officer, 19 PMF Port Harcourt, ACP Promise Wosu, described the raid as part of IGP Disu’s new security code, “Operation Ember Month Clearance of Forests, Highways, Shanties, Waterfronts and Bushes” designed to make Rivers State unsafe for criminals ahead of the yuletide season.
Area Commander, Isiokpo, ACP Festus Ojiaku, and ACP Iriekefe London Owen, also confirmed that the team will provide necessary protection for the Council Chairman and his family, while praising Wobodo’s proactive leadership.
The Council has called on residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements to security agencies.
Meanwhile, ACP Owen, said that the Inspector -General of police, Tunji Disu, had asked the team to thank Hon. Charles Wobodo, for his proactiveness in tackling security challenges in Ikwerre LGA, adding that the team will provide the necessary protection for the Ikwerre Council Chairman, and his family.
This is as the Rivers State Police Command arrested five suspected kidnappers over the abduction of a 24-year-old woman, Chinyere, along the Igwuruta–Etche Road in Rivers State.
The victim was said to have travelled from Delta State to Port Harcourt on October 3, 2026, to visit a friend when she was kidnapped along the Igwuruta–Etche axis.
A statement issued by the Command indicated that the complaint was received on October 4, 2026, about 0900hrs upon which the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, CP Olugbenga A. Adepoju, directed operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Diobu, to swing into action, leading to the arrest of the suspects and the rescue of the victim.
The suspects arrested are, Gift Okeregwu, male, 23 from Okehi Community, Etche LGA arrested in his hideout along Omuoda Pipeline, Aluu, Port Harcourt, Okeregwu Onyekachi, male, 27, native of Okehi Community, Etche LGA, Bright Augustine, male, 27, native of Akukabu Community, Etche LGA, Chijioke Nwalozie, male, 35, native of Akukabu Community, Etche LGA and Obinachi Rita, female, 26, native of Rivers State.
During interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime and disclosed their involvement in other kidnapping incidents within Igwuruta and Etche.
Police investigation revealed that the syndicate lured victims from within and outside Port Harcourt through online dating sites before abducting them for ransom.
The Commissioner of Police reiterated the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property and bringing perpetrators of kidnapping and other violent crimes to justice.
The Command urged members of the public to exercise caution when interacting with strangers met through online dating platforms, verify identities before arranging physical meetings, and promptly report suspicious activities to the police.
