The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a suspected kidnapping kingpin, Mohammed Ibrahim, who allegedly led a notorious gang terrorising commuters along the Port Harcourt International Airport Road.
The suspect was arrested along Emuoha Road on the outskirts of Port Harcourt, following what the police described as credible intelligence-led operations.
The spokesperson for the command, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Wednesday to journalists.
Iringe-Koko, a Chief Superintendent of Police, said Ibrahim and his gang were responsible for several kidnapping incidents across the state and the collection of ransom from their victims.
She explained that the suspect was intercepted on January 10 while attempting to relocate his operational armoury to Agbonchia in the Eleme Local Government Area of the state.
The statement read, “The Rivers State Police Command has made a monumental breakthrough in its ongoing efforts to combat kidnapping and violent crimes in the state in line with the Commissioner of Police’s directives.
“On January 10, 2026, at about 1946hrs, operatives of the command attached to the Anti-Cultism Unit, Emohua Annex, acting on credible intelligence, intercepted and apprehended Mohammed Ibrahim, a 30-year-old male and native of Numan LGA of Adamawa State, in connection with a string of kidnapping operations for ransom in Rivers State.
“Ibrahim, a notorious kidnapper who has been terrorising the Port Harcourt International Airport Road, Omagwa, Rivers State, was apprehended by the operatives as he was planning to relocate his operational armoury and camp to Agbonchia/Oyigbo Road in Eleme LGA.”
She added that a thorough search of the suspect led to the recovery of arms and ammunition.
A search of the suspect led to the recovery of the following exhibits: one AK-47 rifle with breach number 2125 and two magazines loaded with 36 rounds of 7.62 x 39 mm live ammunition,” the statement added.
“During preliminary interrogation, the suspect voluntarily confessed to being the ringleader of a kidnapping syndicate involved in multiple operations within Rivers State.
“The suspect and exhibits are currently in police custody, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of his gang and recover additional operational weapons,” she said.
Reacting to the arrest, the state Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, commended the operatives for their diligence and swift action in apprehending the prime suspect.
Adepoju urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security agencies for prompt action.
He assured members of the public of the command’s commitment to maintaining peace and security in the state while soliciting citizens’ support to enable the police to record more successes.
The commissioner noted that the breakthrough underscored the command’s resolve to tackle violent crimes and bring perpetrators to face the full wrath of the law, stressing that there would be no hiding place for criminal elements in Rivers State.
Credit: punchng.com
