Police rescue kidnap victim, arrest suspect in Rivers

The Rivers State Police Command said its operatives had arrested a 23-year-old suspected kidnapper identified as Sunday Rufus and rescued a victim at the Eliozu–Rumuokoro axis of Port Harcourt.

The police said several exhibits, including one AK-47 rifle and a tricycle popularly known as Keke, were recovered from the suspect.

According to the police, the arrest followed a distress call about an abduction by a group of criminals on September 24, during which operatives of the Special Area Division immediately mobilised and intercepted the fleeing suspects.

The spokesperson for the State Police Command, Blessing Agabe, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Saturday and sent to newsmen.

The statement partly reads: “The Rivers State Police Command has recorded a significant operational breakthrough with the arrest of a suspected kidnapper, rescue of a kidnapped victim and recovery of one AK-47 rifle in the Eliozu–Rumuokoro axis of Port Harcourt.

“On 24th September 2026, at about 2215hrs, the Command received information that someone has been kidnapped.

“Acting swiftly on the report, the Convoy Patrol Team stationed at Eliozu, sighted the suspected kidnappers and immediately gave them a hot chase towards Rumuokoro, by Eligbolu.

“In line with the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Police Command, Olugbenga Adewole Adepoju, operatives of the Special Area Division swiftly mobilised and intercepted the fleeing suspects.

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“The coordinated operation resulted in the arrest of one of the suspected kidnappers and the successful rescue of the kidnapped victim, one Mr. Emmanuel, who was subsequently secured for necessary medical attention.

“The arrested suspect is one Sunday Rufus, aged 23, a native of Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.”

“Exhibits recovered during the operation include: One AK-47 rifle, Two rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, One white tricycle (Keke) with registration number PHC 756 ZY

“Efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the criminal gang,” the statement added.

Speaking, the State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, said Rivers State would not be a safe haven for criminals, stressing that the command would sustain intelligence-driven and coordinated operations against kidnappers and other criminal elements across the state.

CP Adepoju commended the officers and operatives involved in the successful operation for their prompt response, courage and professionalism.

He, however, urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue to provide credible and timely information to the police, saying community cooperation remained vital in the collective effort to prevent and combat kidnapping and other violent crimes in the state.