The Rivers State Police Command has apprehended five suspected kidnappers accused of orchestrating a series of abductions in Port Harcourt and its surrounding areas.
The suspects are also linked to the murder of Richard Timothy, the Chief Security Officer of Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, and his 23-year-old son, Silas, in February.
The police command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed the arrests in a statement on Tuesday, revealing that the suspects were nabbed following intelligence-led operations carried out by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit.
“Based on actionable intelligence, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit launched a coordinated operation on March 8, 2025, at around 9:30 am. The operation lasted for eight hours and resulted in the arrest of five suspects,” the statement read.
The arrested individuals were identified as:
Mohammadu Bello, 30 (Padiki LGA, Kwara State)
Suleman Umar, 26 (Hadeja LGA, Jigawa State)
Bello Amadu, 35 (Keffi-Hausa LGA, Jigawa State)
Adamu Musa, 30 (Hadeja LGA, Jigawa State)
Abubakar Mohammed, 22 (Azare LGA, Bauchi State)
According to Iringe-Koko, the suspects confessed to multiple kidnappings and admitted to their involvement in the killing of the stadium security chief and his son.
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During the operation, security operatives recovered a cache of weapons, including two AK-47 rifles, six AK-47 magazines, 66 rounds of ammunition, three locally-made pistols, and 10 live cartridges. Several mobile phones and SIM cards were also seized from the suspects.
“The suspects are currently in custody and cooperating with investigators. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the syndicate,” the police spokesperson added.
The Rivers State Police Command reassured residents of its commitment to tackling crime and maintaining security across the state, promising to provide further updates as investigations progress.