Police Arrest Suspected Kidnappers Who Killed Victim After Collecting Millions in Ransom

Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have arrested three suspected kidnappers accused of killing a victim after collecting ransom. Police spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the development in Port Harcourt on Monday, identifying the suspects as 20-year-old Hassan Mohammed from Borno State, 25-year-old Bello Abubakar from Sokoto State, and 23-year-old Yusuf Ahmed from Bauchi State.

According to the statement, the suspects were apprehended on September 19, 2025, during a coordinated operation by the Anti-Cultism Unit in Obio/Akpor and Ikwerre local government areas. Their arrest followed investigations into the kidnapping of Humphrey Wagbara, who was abducted from Igwuruta-Atali in Ikwerre LGA on August 26. Police said the suspects collected a ransom of N6.9 million from the victim’s family before killing him.

Further investigations revealed that the suspects had been involved in several kidnappings in the state. They were linked to the abduction of Mercy Chinyere on September 12 at the same location, during which a ransom of N3.5 million was collected before she was released. They also admitted to kidnapping Onwuli Jude and Nwabueze Nchekwube on September 24, where they again collected N6.9 million but killed one of the victims.

Items recovered from the suspects included a G-3 rifle with magazine, three short daggers, a jack knife, a stainless short knife, and an Itel phone belonging to one of the kidnapped victims. Iringe-Koko said the suspects confessed to multiple kidnappings and are currently in custody, while efforts are ongoing to track down other fleeing members of the gang and recover more weapons.