JUST IN: Police arrest 4 criminal herdsmen for kidnapping, demanding N300m

Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have arrested four suspected herdsmen for kidnapping four company workers.

 

The operatives also arrested another suspected kidnapper, Godfrey Odum, over his alleged involvement in the kidnap of a student of Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Precious Chukwu.

 

These achievements were contained in a statement in Port Harcourt yesterday by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police.

 

Iringe-Koko said the herdsmen exposed and arrested following intelligence report of the police, adding that the four criminals have been involved in many criminal activities in and outside the state.

 

She said: “Investigation was initiated following a report made by the management of Lujo Heights Homes on January 19, 2024. The report detailed the disappearance of four staff members during a routine property inspection in Okocha Community, Igbo-Etche, Etche Local Government Area. Despite repeated attempts to establish contact, there was no response from the missing individuals.

 

“Through meticulous intelligence-gathering efforts, the police apprehended four suspects believed to be connected to the incident. The arrested individuals have been identified as Yahaya Bello, Aliyu Usman, Sule Abubakar, and Abdullahi Adamu. During questioning, these suspects confessed to their involvement in the abduction of the victims, as well as the subsequent destruction of the Toyota Sequoia SUV they were traveling in.

 

“The victims, who endured a harrowing ordeal in the forests of Etche, recounted being subjected to inhumane treatment and constant threats of death unless a ransom of NGN 300,000,000 was paid for their release.

 

“Investigations revealed that these individuals are part of a criminal network predominantly comprised of Fulani individuals operating under the guise of cattle rearers, they have been engaged in a series of kidnappings across Rivers, Delta, and Edo states.”

 

She noted that police during the operations recovered two locally-made pistols, two smartphones, and a black Toyota Sequoia belonging to the gang, adding that investigations were on to apprehend other members of the criminal network, now at large.

 

According to the statement, Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, expressed his commendation for the outstanding efforts of the officers of Rivers State Police Command in combatting crime and ensuring the safety of residents, advising residents to be careful when hiring security personnel.