The Rivers State Police Command says its operatives have arrested three high-profile kidnappers who lure victims into the state through deceitful means.
The police also said three persons held hostage by the miscreants were rescued.
According to the police, the suspects usually lure unsuspecting victims from different parts of the country through social media platforms using the images of important personalities to erase suspicion.
The spokesperson for the state police command, Blessing Agabe, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Saturday and sent to newsmen.
Agabe said the suspects were abducting another person they lured from Anambra State in the guise of offering an interior decoration job before operatives swooped on them.
She said the arrested suspects confessed to various kidnappings, adding that efforts are on to apprehend the leader of the criminal gang who fled during the operation.
The statement reads, “The Rivers State Police Command has recorded a significant breakthrough in its ongoing efforts to combat crimes within the State.
“Sequel to the kidnap of one Chukwudekwu Emmanuel (male), a resident of Lagos State, which occurred on 17th February, 2026, at Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, operatives of the Command based at Emohua, leveraging on the technology-driven strategies of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, on 14th April, 2026, at about 1300hrs, successfully apprehended three suspected kidnappers linked to the crime.
“They are Hinedu Okoro, aged 38, a native of Imo State, one Okwudiri Njoku, 32, a native of Ozuzu, Etche Local Government Area and one Onyema Sunday, 25, a native of Ika, Akwa Ibom State.
“Preliminary investigation reveals that the suspects specialise in luring unsuspecting victims from different parts of the country through social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Tinder, using the images of reputable personalities to gain trust.
“The suspects were apprehended while attempting to kidnap another would-be victim, one Chisom Nwokolo George (male), who was deceitfully invited from Anambra State under the pretext of offering him an interior decoration job.”
During the investigation, Agabe said the suspects confessed to multiple kidnapping operations, including the kidnapping of Jennifer Nnaji (female), a resident of Enugu State, on 1st March, 2026, and the kidnapping of one Lakan Ayodele (male), a resident of Lagos State.
The exhibit recovered includes one operational motorcycle with registration number AHD 758 VT.
“Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing gang leader and other members of the syndicate,” the police spokesperson stated.
Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, reassured residents of the command’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of lives and property across the state.
He advised the public to be cautious when dealing with unknown persons online, urging individuals to verify identities for job offers, avoid sharing personal information, and inform trusted relations before meeting strangers.
The commissioner also urged residents to report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station or dedicated hotlines for prompt action.
“Further developments will be communicated as investigations progress,” the statement added.
