The Rivers State Police Command has arrested five suspected kidnappers over the abduction of a 24-year-old woman, Chinyere, along the Igwirita-Etche Road.
The spokesperson for the command, ASP Agabe Blessing Kaborlo, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, October 27, 2026 in Port Harcourt, saying the suspects allegedly lured victims through online dating platforms before abducting them.
According to the statement, the victim travelled from Delta State to Port Harcourt on October 3, 2026, to visit a friend when she was allegedly abducted along the Igwirita–Etche Road.
The police said the command received a complaint about the abduction on October 4, 2026, at about 9 a.m.
Following the directives of the Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga A. Adepoju, psc, mnips, fcai, operatives of the command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Diobu, launched an investigation that led to the arrest of the suspects at their hideout along the Omuoda Pipeline, Allu, Port Harcourt.
The suspects were identified as Gift Okeregwu, 23, Okeregwu Onyekachi, 27, Bright Augustine, 27, and Chijoke Nwalozie, 35, and Obinachi Rita, 26.
Agabe said the suspects allegedly confessed to their involvement in the kidnapping during investigations and provided information about other abduction incidents in Igwirita and Etche.
She said the suspects also disclosed that they specialised in luring victims from within and outside Port Harcourt through online dating sites before abducting them.
“The Rivers State Police Command has arrested five suspected kidnappers allegedly involved in the abduction of a 24-year-old woman, one Chinyere, along the Igwirita–Etche Road in Rivers State,” the statement read.
“On October 4, 2026, at about 0900 hours, the Command received a complaint that one Chinyere, had been kidnapped.
“The victim had reportedly travelled from Delta State to Port Harcourt on October 3, 2026, to visit a friend when she was abducted along the Igwirita–Etche Road.
“Following the directives of the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Police Command, CP Olugbenga A. Adepoju, psc, mnips, fcai, Upon receipt of the complaint, the operatives of the Command Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) Diobu immediately swung into action and arrested the perpetrators of this crime.
“The name of the suspects are: one Gift Okeregwu, male, aged 23, a native of Okehi Community in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, who was arrested at his hideout along the Omuoda Pipeline, Allu, Port Harcourt, One Okeregwu Onyekachi, male, aged 27, a native of Okehi Community, Etche LGA, one Bright Augustine, male, aged 27, a native of Akukabu Community, Etche LGA, one Chijoke Nwalozie, male, aged 35, a native of Akukabu Community, Etche LGA, and one Obinachi Rita, female, aged 26, a native of Rivers State.
“During investigation, the suspects confessed to their involvement in the kidnapping and disclosed information about other kidnapping incidents within Igwirita and Etche.
“They further disclosed that they lured victims from within and outside Port Harcourt through online dating sites before abducting them.
“The Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Police Command reiterates the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property and bringing perpetrators of kidnapping and other violent crimes to justice.
“The Command urges 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.”
