The Rivers State Police Command rescues kidnapped victims and deals bitter blows on other criminals terrorizing the state
By Chinedu Ogu
The Rivers State Police Command has rescued a 13-year old girl who was kidnapped on June 5, while running an errand for her mother in Umuebule Community, Etche Local Government Area.
Tentacle gathered that the operation led to the arrest of two suspects and the death of a notorious kidnapping kingpin during a shootout with police operatives.
In a statement made available to journalists, the Rivers State Command Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said on June 7, 2025, the command received credible intelligence regarding a 13-year old girl, who was declared missing on June 5, 2025, while running an errand for her mother in Umuebule Community, Etche Local Government Area of the state.
The victim’s mother subsequently received ransom demands of N2 million via phone calls threatening that the daughter would be killed if the demand was not met.
Operatives from the C4i Intelligence Unit promptly swing into action, arresting a 24-year old female suspect from Igbo-Etche suspected to be the subscriber of the Sim Cards linked to the ransom demands. The suspect had allegedly claimed that her phone was robbed in June 2025.
Further investigation on June 10, 2025 at about 1600 hrs culminated in the arrest of the principal suspect, Chizoba Andrew Obi, a 36 years old male suspect and the kidnapped victim was rescued unhurt in a fenced forest at Umuechem Community, Etche Local Government Area and the following exhibits were recovered, one locally made pistol, two live cartridges.
The statement confirmed that during interrogation, the suspect confessed to be a serial kidnapping kingpin operating with a four-man gang.
As Police operatives were led by the suspect to the forest to recover their operational weapons, the gang members on sighting the police operatives opened fire, prompting a shootout between the police and kidnappers.
The arrested suspect attempted to flee, but they were caught in the cross-fire and were neutralized, sustaining bullet wounds, while other members of the gang escaped with varying degrees of gunshot wounds. He was rushed to University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) for medical treatment, but was pronounced dead by the Medical Doctor on Duty. The victim was debriefed and has been reunited with her family. The statement further reads that investigation is ongoing with efforts under way to apprehend other members of the syndicate and recover their operational weapons.
In a related development, the Nigeria Police Force has announced the rescue of a kidnapped four–year old girl, the arrest of a fake kidnapping gang and the recovery of counterfeit currency from suspected fraudsters.
According to a statement released by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in line with the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to sustaining its efforts in internal security through crime prevention and protection of lives and property across the country, the Nigeria Police Force has recorded several significant breakthroughs across various state commands in the country, underscoring the effectiveness of intelligence – led policing in dismantling criminal networks and curbing insecurity.
In Katsina State, operatives of the command acting on a complaint received on February 2025 from one Alhaji Badamasi Bala of Madaci Yan Nono Quarters cracked a disturbing case of kidnapping involving a 14–year–old girl and her four–year –old sister. Four months later, the older sister resurfaced and, upon further investigations, she confessed to staging the kidnapping and conspiracy with three accomplices, aged 25, 19 and 16, respectively. All suspects have been arrested and the 4–years–old sister have been rescued unhurt.
Similarly, on June 13, 2025, a joint team comprising operatives of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies acting on credible intelligence conducted a coordinated raid at Kankare and Zurkuda Villages in Birnin Kudu Local Government Area, Jigawa State. The operation led to the arrest of seven suspected fraudsters involved in a network of financial crimes. Exhibits recovered from them include: 46, 100 fake US Dollars, four POS Machines, 13 Android Smart Phones, 29 Keypad Phones, six power banks.
In Nasarawa State, following credible intelligence on the movement of a suspected arms trafficker, operatives of the State Command launched a swift and strategic operation along the Giza-Kadarko Road in Keana Council, where a suspicious individual was flagged down.
Upon sighting the operatives, the suspect abandoned the motorcycle and fled into a nearby bush to evade arrest. A thorough search of the abandoned vehicle led to the recovery of one (1) AK-47 rifle, two magazines and 45 rounds of live ammunition. Efforts are on to arrest the fleeing suspect.
According to the Force Image Maker the coordinated operations reflect the Nigeria Police Force’s resolve to combat all forms of criminality through proactive measures, intelligence gathering and community partnership.
The NPF under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun urges the general public to remain law-abiding, vigilant and cooperative with the Nigeria Police Force to secure our communities and ensure a safer Nigeria.
