By: Felix Ikpotor
The Rivers State Police Command has arrested four suspected members of an armed robbery, kidnapping gang, recovered several firearms and ammunitions following an intelligence-led operation.
A police statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Blessing Agabe said the feat was achieved based on credible intelligence, on the 4th October 2026, at about 1600hrs when the Commander, Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Rivers State Command, led a team of Police officers to Rumuekpe Community, Emohua Local Government Area.
Agabe, an assistant inspector of police said the action said in line with the directives of the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Police Command, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, to intensify raids and targeted operations against criminal elements, operatives of the Command carried out the directives which led to the arrest of the suspects.
She gave the names of the suspects as: one Chinemerem Uchewo, male, a native of Rumuekpe community in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, one Micheal Ishaka, male, a native of Adabor community in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, one Abdulahi George, male, a native of Oduoha community in Emuoha Local Government Area of Rivers State and one Gideon Okah, male, a native of Elele Alimini community in Emuohua Local Government Area of Rivers State who was subsequently arrested in Owerri, Imo State.
The statement bsaid preliminary investigation reviewed their involvement in several armed robbery and kidnapping incidents within Choba, Elele Alimini, Emohua and Rumuekpe communities in Rivers State.
The Command said the suspects also confessed to the robbery and murder of one Joseph Onyeka on 23rd July 2026 in Rumuji Community, as well as the attack and shooting of Insp. Wokoma, attached to the Rivers State Police Command, while on duty at a checkpoint along the East-West Road by Elele Alimini Junction on 4th August 2026.
Exhibit recovered from them includes: two AK-47 rifles, two pump-action rifles, one English-made double-barrel rifle, one locally made revolver pistol and 58 rounds of live ammunition.
The Command has intensified efforts to arrest the fleeing criminal syndicate and bring all those connected to the criminal activities to justice, Agabe stated.
The police imagemaker saus the Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju commended the operatives for their courage, professionalism and commitment to combating violent crime in the State. He assured members of the public that the Command will continue to intensify intelligence-led raids, targeted operations and sustained investigations aimed at dismantling criminal networks and recovering illegal firearms.
The police further advised criminals and their collaborators to desist from committing crime, noting that the Command will leave no stone unturned in bringing perpetrators of armed robbery, kidnapping and other violent crimes to justice.
The Command also urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly provide the Police with credible and timely information on suspicious activities within their communities, assuring them that such information would be treated with utmost confidentiality.
