Four suspected members of an armed robbery and kidnapping gang have been arrested by the Rivers State Police Command, with firearms and ammunition recovered during an intelligence-led operation in the state.
The operation was carried out on October 4, 2026, at about 4 p.m., when officers led by the Commander of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Rivers State Command, stormed Rumuekpe Community in Emohua Local Government Area.
The action followed a directive by the Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga A. Adepoju, to step up raids and targeted operations against criminal elements across the state.
The arrested suspects were identified as Chinemerem Uchewo, from Rumuekpe Community in Emohua Local Government Area; Micheal Ishaka, from Adabor Community in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State; Abdulahi George, from Oduoha Community in Emohua Local Government Area; and Gideon Okah, from Elele Alimini Community in Emohua Local Government Area. Okah was later arrested in Owerri, Imo State.
The police said preliminary investigations connected the suspects to several armed robbery and kidnapping incidents in Choba, Elele Alimini, Emohua and Rumuekpe communities.
According to the command, the suspects also confessed to robbing and murdering Joseph Onyeka in Rumuji Community on July 23, 2026.
They were also linked to the shooting of Inspector Womoma, a police officer attached to the Rivers State Police Command, during duty at a checkpoint along the East-West Road near Elele Alimini Junction on August 4, 2026.
The recovered items comprised 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 stated that efforts had been intensified to apprehend other fleeing members of the alleged criminal syndicate and ensure that everyone connected to the crimes was brought to justice.
The Commissioner of Police praised the operatives for their bravery, professionalism and dedication to the fight against violent crime in the state.
He assured residents that the command would sustain intelligence-led raids, targeted operations and investigations to break up criminal networks and recover illegal firearms.
The commissioner warned criminals and their collaborators to abandon criminal activities, stressing that the command would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that those responsible for armed robbery, kidnapping and other violent crimes were brought to justice.
He also called on residents to stay alert and provide the police with credible and timely information about suspicious activities in their communities. He assured them that all information received would be handled with the highest level of confidentiality.
