Police nab suspected kidnappers who took ₦10.3 million ransom

The police in Rivers State have arrested two men linked to a six-member kidnapping gang. They are accused of collecting a ransom of ₦10.3 million for the release of a kidnap victim.

Officers from the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU-AKU) arrested the suspects after an intelligence-led operation, according to the police.

The suspects are Victor Ifeanyi, 24, also known as Big Boby, from Aguleri Community in Otuocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, and Aniekan Michael, 36, known as Duff Man, from Ikot Ukpor in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

Blessing Agabe, the state police spokesperson, shared this information in a statement on Facebook on Monday.

The victim, identified as Mr. Hassan, lives in Rivers State. He was kidnapped on 6 September 2026, near Fidelity Bank at Garrison in Port Harcourt.

The kidnappers took him to Igbugulu Waterside in Borikiri, Port Harcourt, where he was held for three days.

The police reported that the victim was freed after his family paid a ransom of ₦10.3 million.

They received reliable information about the kidnapping on 7 September. The police quickly sent VCRU-AKU officers to investigate the case.

This investigation led to the arrest of the two suspects.

"Preliminary investigation showed that the suspects admitted to their role in the kidnapping," the police stated.

The suspects reportedly told the police that the gang had six members and that they used a white mini-bus, commonly known as a Keke bus, during the crime.

The police are still working to arrest the other four members of this gang.

These arrests happen alongside other police actions against suspected kidnappers in Rivers State.

In a recent operation, police arrested four suspected kidnappers and rescued a woman who had been abducted. Reports say this was part of efforts by security agencies to break down kidnapping rings in the area.

In another case, police saved a kidnap victim and caught a suspect, according to PREMIUM TIMES.

Olugbenga Adepoju, the Police Commissioner in Rivers State, encouraged residents to share reliable information that could help the police catch criminals.

Mr. Adepoju assured the public that any information given would be treated confidentially.

He said the police would keep conducting intelligence-led operations to disrupt kidnapping gangs and other criminal groups in the state.

The commissioner also asked residents to stay calm and work with security agencies.