The Rivers State Police Command has smashed a kidnapping syndicate that lures victims through online dating platforms and rescued a 24-year-old woman.
The victim, identified as Chinyere, had travelled from Delta State to Port Harcourt on October 3, 2026 to visit a friend she met online before she was kidnapped along Igwuruta-Etche Road in Ikwerre Local Government Area.
The incident was reported to the police on October 4, 2026 at about 9:00 a.m.
Following the complaint, the Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, directed operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, Diobu, to swing into action.
The operatives rescued the victim and arrested five suspects.
The suspects are Gift Okeregwu, 23, from Okehi Community in Etche LGA, who was arrested at his hideout along Omuoda Pipeline, Aluu; Okeregwu Onyekachi, 27, also from Okehi; Bright Augustine, 27, from Akukabu Community, Etche; Chijoke Nwalozie, 35, from Akukabu and Obinachi Rita, 26, the female accomplice.
Confirming the arrest, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Agabe Blessing Kaborlo, said the suspects confessed to the crime during investigation and disclosed information about other kidnapping incidents within Igwuruta and Etche axis.
According to her, the suspects admitted luring victims from within and outside Port Harcourt through online dating sites before abducting them.
The Command urged members of the public to exercise caution when interacting with strangers met through online dating platforms, verify identities before arranging physical meetings and promptly report suspicious activities to the police.
