The Police in Rivers State, Nigeria’s South-south, have arrested three suspected kidnappers who allegedly killed one in every of their victims after amassing N6.9 million ransom.
In an announcement on Monday, the police spokesperson within the state, Grace Iringe-Koko, stated the arrests adopted an investigation into the kidnapping of 1 Humphrey Wagbara of Igwuruta-Atali, a neighborhood in Ikwerre Native Authorities Space of the state.
Ms Iringe-Koko, a superintendent of police, stated the suspects additionally kidnapped one Mercy Chinyere on 12 September on the similar location, the place additionally they collected a ransom of N3.5million earlier than releasing her.
The police spokesperson recognized the suspects as Hassan Mohammed, 20, of Wandigah City, Mandagali, Borno State; Bello Abubakar, 25, of Roundabout Maura, Sokoto State; and Yusuf Ahmed, 23, of Hazari Native Authorities Space, Bauchi State.
Ms Iringe-Koko stated the police acquired a report on 26 August this 12 months in regards to the abduction of Mr Wagbara.
“Operatives of the Command hooked up to the Anti-Cultism Unit (ACU), Emohua Annexe, appearing on this data and in a daring and coordinated operation on 19 September 2025, at about 0200hrs, arrested three suspects at totally different areas in Obio/Akpor and Ikwerre Native Authorities areas of the state in reference to the kidnapping of the sufferer.”
She stated throughout interrogation, the suspects voluntarily confessed to their involvement in a number of kidnappings within the state.
“Amongst their previous kidnappings are these of Onwuli Jude and Nwabueze Nchekwube on September 24, 2025, at College Street, Igwuruta-Atali, the place they collected a ransom of N6,900,000 earlier than killing the sufferer,” she stated.
The police spokesperson stated reveals recovered from the suspects embrace one G-3 rifle with Breech Quantity 10398, one journal, one Itel telephone belonging to Mr Wagbara, three brief daggers, one jack knife, and one stainless brief knife.
Ms Iringe-Koko stated the suspects and the reveals are in police custody, whereas detectives are monitoring different fleeing members of the syndicate and trying to find extra weapons.
Prohibited in Nigeria
Kidnapping has been prohibited in Nigeria since Could 2022.
The nation enacted the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act (2022), which outlawed all types of kidnapping.
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The Act prescribes a demise sentence for kidnapping in a case the place the kidnapping results in lack of life and life imprisonment the place there isn’t a lack of life.
It was an modification to the now-defunct Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act (2013), which had prescribed a 10-year jail time period for kidnapping.
The brand new Act additionally prescribes not less than a 15-year jail time period for whoever pays ransom to free kidnapped victims.
A number of individuals have been convicted of kidnapping throughout Nigeria.
An Ikeja Particular Offences Courtroom, in September 2022, sentenced kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans, to 21 years imprisonment for kidnapping.
