Police nab kidnappers who lured victim via dating site in Rivers

The Rivers State Police Command said its men have arrested two notorious kidnappers in their hideout in Egwi community in Etche Local Government Area of the state.

The police said the suspects lured their victim through a dating site before she was abducted and subsequently collected a ransom of N200,000 from her family.

The spokesperson of the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

Iringe-Koko said the two suspects, aged 25 years, were nabbed following a discreet investigation by operatives of the Command’s special unit.

She said upon interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime and narrated how they lured the young girl.

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The statement reads, “Following actionable intelligence on September 22, 2025, Operatives of the Command attached to the Special Operations and Intelligence Team sprang into action, trailing the suspects to their hideout in Egwi, Etche, at about 22:00 hours and arrested the following two suspects:

“The Rivers State Police Command, in a daring operation, arrested two suspected notorious kidnappers involved in the abduction of a 24-year-old woman, (name withheld), on September 21, 2025, at about 2030hrs in Igbo Etche.

“Following actionable intelligence on September 22, 2025, Operatives of the Command attached to the Special Operations and Intelligence Team (SOIT) sprang into action, trailing the suspects to their hideout in Egwi, Etche, at about 22:00 hours and arrested the two suspects.”

The state police image maker gave the names of the suspects as: Ifeanyi Chukwu Alozie, from Okomoko, Etche Local Government Area, residing at Ndimasi Farm Road, Igbo Etche and Miracle Nwimene, from Zakpo, Khana Local Government Area, residing at Umuagagu Etche.
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The statement added, “During the preliminary interrogation, both suspects voluntarily confessed to their involvement in the crime, revealing that they lured the victim through a dating site to Igbo Etche, where she was kidnapped.

“Despite the pressure from our relentless pursuit, the suspects (abductors) managed to collect a ransom of Two Hundred Thousand Naira (₦200,000) from her relatives before releasing the victim.

“Suspects are currently in Police custody, the investigation is ongoing, and efforts are being intensified to arrest other suspects at large. The victim has been debriefed and reunited with her family.”

Meanwhile, the State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, commends the bravery and dedication of the Operatives in apprehending the suspects.

Adepoju assured the public that the Command under his watch remains committed to ensuring their safety and security.

He urges citizens to exercise caution when engaging in online dating, highlighting the potential risks associated with such platforms.

Earlier, the Bauchi State Police Command arrested six suspected kidnappers and rescued three abducted victims from Euga village in Toro Local Government Area.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Ahmed Wakil, said the operation was launched after a distress call was received on September 29, 2025, from a community member.