In a startling revelation, the Rivers State Police Command has apprehended two notorious kidnappers responsible for the abduction and burial alive of Praise Daakian, a former Community Development Committee Chairman in Kereken-Boue, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The suspects, Baridapdo Igia, 33, and Elvis Gordon, 26, confessed to being leaders of the Iceland and Degbam cult groups in Khana, terrorizing the community for the past three years.
Commissioner of Police Olatunji Disu revealed this during his inaugural news briefing in Port Harcourt, detailing the heinous crime. The suspects admitted to murdering Daakian after collecting N200,000 as part of the ransom from his wife. They further confessed to being involved in the murder of nine other victims between 2021 and 2023, contributing to the partial evacuation of the community during this period.
“The duo also confessed to murdering nine other victims from 2021 to 2023 and were the main reason for the partial evacuation of the community within this same period,” Commissioner Disu stated.
Investigations are ongoing to uncover the full extent of the suspects’ operations.
In a related development, the Commissioner highlighted the arrest of three suspected armed robbers during a routine patrol in the Trans-Amadi axis of Port Harcourt.
Elsharawy Joseph, 27, Thankgod Achese, 23, and Ibrahim Ishaq, 25, were intercepted with a tricycle (Keke) and found in possession of a locally made pistol and a dagger suspected to be stolen.
The trio confessed to engaging in robbery using the ‘one chance’ model, targeting unsuspecting victims along Odili Road and Abuloma areas. They admitted to robbing passengers and forcibly taking valuables, using the tricycle as a getaway vehicle.
CP Disu urged residents to support the police in combating crime, emphasizing the importance of providing credible and timely information to enable the command to enhance its efforts in maintaining public safety and security.