Five Cultists Arrested for Kidnapping and Killing Port Harcourt Entertainer After Collecting Ransom

The Rivers State Police Command has arrested five suspected cultists for allegedly kidnapping and killing a popular Port Harcourt entertainer, Rowland Horsfall, despite extorting ransom from his mother.

Rowland, widely known as Speech Horsfall, was a radio presenter, event host, and on-air personality. He was abducted in September 2024. According to a statement issued on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, by the command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, the suspects belong to the Iceland cult group and had initially demanded a ransom of N2.5 million from Horsfall’s mother. Unaware that her son had already been killed, she transferred N300,000 to his account.

Suspicious of the kidnappers’ continued demands, she reported the incident to the police, prompting swift intervention. Investigations revealed that Horsfall had left his residence in Peace Valley Estate, Woji, on September 10, 2024, to attend meetings in Port Harcourt. That evening, he informed his mother he was on his way home. The following morning, he called her again, saying he was being held hostage and needed N300,000 to retrieve his seized phone. The abductors later escalated their demands to N2.5 million, sending threatening messages and images to Horsfall’s girlfriend, warning that he would be killed if the ransom was not paid.

Despite receiving the N300,000, the kidnappers killed him and dumped his body along Queens/Kings Bakery, Abuloma Road, Port Harcourt. Following a complaint from the victim’s mother, police operatives launched an operation and arrested the prime suspect, Endurance Friday Thompson, in Woji Town on November 3, 2024.

During interrogation, Thompson confessed to the crime, detailing how he and his gang held Horsfall captive, killed him after failing to secure the full ransom, and disposed of his body. The other arrested suspects include Boma Otonye, also known as Excess Chief (41), David Link Ishaku, known as Biggy (34), Moses Nsikak Benjamin, known as Aboy (29), and Emmanuel Aniete (32).

All the suspects reportedly confessed to the crime, while police continue efforts to apprehend other fleeing members of the gang.

Iringe-Koko urged youths to be cautious about their associations and movements to avoid falling victim to criminal elements. She also assured the public that the police are intensifying their manhunt to bring all those responsible to justice.