The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a suspected notorious kidnapper and recovered a prohibited firearm and ammunition during an intelligence-led operation in the state.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Grace Iringe-Koko, said operatives attached to the Anti-Cultism Unit (ACU), Emohua Annex, apprehended the suspect, Mohammed Ibrahim, on January 10, 2026, at about 7:46pm.
Ibrahim, a 30-year-old native of Numan Local Government Area of Adamawa State, was intercepted along the Port Harcourt International Airport Road, Omagwa, while allegedly planning to relocate his operational camp and armoury to the Agbonchia/Oyigbo Road axis in Eleme Local Government Area.
The police described the suspect as a notorious kidnapper who had been terrorising residents and travellers along the airport corridor.
A search conducted on him led to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle with breach number 2125, and two magazines loaded with 36 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm live ammunition.
According to the statement, the suspect voluntarily confessed during preliminary interrogation to being the ringleader of a kidnapping syndicate responsible for several abductions for ransom within Rivers State.
The suspect and recovered exhibits are currently in police custody, while efforts are ongoing to arrest other members of the gang and recover additional weapons.
Commending the operatives for their swift action, the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, assured residents of the Command’s commitment to maintaining peace and security in the state.
He urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security agencies, stressing that there would be no hiding place for criminal elements in Rivers State.
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