The Rivers State Police Command has recorded major successes in the fight against crimes between June and August 2026, arresting 18 suspects and recovering 47 firearms of different calibers, 12 stolen vehicles, and 420 rounds of live ammunition.
Addressing journalists at a media briefing at the Rivers State Police Headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State Police Commissioner, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, said the command’s operatives made significant progress in tackling murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism and vehicle theft across the state.
On the murder of policemen at Aluu Division, CP Adepoju recalled that on 29 June 2026, officers on stop-and-search duty were attacked by hoodlums.
“Two of our officers paid the supreme price. Others were wounded, while one got his leg amputated. Two AK-47 rifles were carted away by the hoodlums,” he stated.
He disclosed that operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit and the anti-kidnapping section later arrested three members of the criminal gang believed to be responsible.
Those in custody are Maduabuchi Emeka, 34, the gang leader known as Doctor; Chinedu Owo, 42; and Kamarchi Joe, 28, the armourer.
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“During interrogation, he confessed and led us to their hideout at Omagwa. We recovered the two stolen AK-47 rifles from their hideout. We are still on the trail of the fourth suspect, who will very soon be arrested,” the Commissioner said.
In a separate operation against kidnapping, CP Adepoju said five members of a kidnapping syndicate operating in Oyigbo Local Government Area were arrested.
He said the suspects include Ezekiel Emmanuel, 44; Chukuma Mbanefu, 51; Nicolas Dalla, 65; and two others who confessed to carrying out abductions in Komkom Railway, Obema and Afam communities.
On 27 July 2026, two more members of the same network, Anele Ogbogu, 35, the gang’s armourer, and Kenneth Eke, 38, were also arrested. Four rifles, including an AK-47 and an SMG, were recovered from them.
Other recoveries included two Beretta pistols, 97 rounds of live ammunition, and one live cartridge seized from Allison Oguma, 35, who was arrested for threatening his wife with a firearm in Bonny.
He added that two members of a one-chance robbery syndicate, Uche Samwe, 45, and Nkechi Amadi, 42, were also arrested after they confessed to the crime.
The Commissioner appealed to the public to report one-chance incidents promptly to enable security operatives to put in place measures to tackle the growing menace.
“In most cases, we just see them on social media; it has not always been reported officially at the police division nearest to where such incidents happen. People should report such cases. We want to be able to know the style they are using, and know the areas they operate in,” he said.
According to CP Adepoju, on 10 August, officers on patrol along Ada-George Road intercepted Andrew Atasi, 49, dressed in military uniform and driving a Toyota Hilux painted in army colours.
He said an Investigation revealed that the suspect is a serial car snatcher, and three suspected stolen vehicles, including two Toyota Hilux and one Toyota Corona Premium with registration number NY380ES, were recovered from him.
“I want to assure the good people of Rivers State that we are not relenting. We are sustaining intelligent, led and community-oriented policing,” the Commissioner declared, adding that Rivers State “will not be a safe haven for criminals.
