Three individuals suspected of kidnapping have been apprehended by the Rivers State Police Command after allegedly murdering one of their hostages following the collection of a ransom totaling N6.9 million.
Grace Iringe-Koko, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Rivers State, disclosed in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday that the suspects have been identified as Hassan Mohammed, Bello Abubakar, and Yusuf Ahmed.
The investigation began after the abduction of Humphrey Wagbara from Igwuruta-Atali in the Ikwerre local government area, which ultimately led to the arrest of the trio.
According to the statement, the suspects were also involved in the kidnapping of Mercy Chinyere on September 12, 2025, at the same location. They reportedly demanded and received a ransom of N3,500,000 before releasing her unharmed.
“On August 26, 2025, the Rivers State Police Command was alerted to the kidnapping of Humphrey Wagbara, a male resident of Igwuruta-Atali,” the statement revealed.
“In response, officers from the Anti-Cultism Unit (ACU) at the Emohua Annex conducted a well-coordinated operation on September 19, 2025, around 2:00 AM, leading to the arrest of three suspects at various sites within Obio/Akpor and Ikwerre Local Government Areas in connection with the abduction.”
The suspects were identified as 20-year-old Hassan Mohammed from Wandigah Town, Mandagali in Borno State; 25-year-old Bello Abubakar from Roundabout Maura, Sokoto State; and 23-year-old Yusuf Ahmed from Hazari Local Government Area, Bauchi State.
During questioning, the suspects admitted to participating in several kidnapping incidents across the state.
Among the cases they confessed to was the abduction of Onwuli Jude and Nwabueze Nchekwube on September 24, 2025, at School Road, Igwuruta-Atali, where they extorted a ransom of N6,900,000 before killing one of the victims.
They also acknowledged the kidnapping of Mercy Chinyere on September 12, 2025, at the same location, where they collected N3,500,000 before releasing her.
Recovered items from the suspects include a G-3 rifle bearing Breech Number 10398, one magazine, an Itel mobile phone belonging to Humphrey Wagbara, three short daggers, a jack knife, and a stainless steel short knife, according to the Rivers State Police spokesperson.
Iringe-Koko confirmed that the suspects and the seized items remain in police custody as investigations continue. Authorities are actively pursuing other members of the criminal network and working to recover additional weapons used in their operations.
