A quiet afternoon at a shop in Rivers State turned into a nightmare for one family after armed men stormed in, fired shots into the air, and dragged a woman away in front of horrified onlookers.
According to the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Blessing Agabe, the woman, identified as Loveth, was seated outside her shop when she was attacked.
"On September 2, 2026, Loveth, while seated in front of her shop, was reportedly accosted by armed men who fired shots into the air before forcefully abducting her and taking her away in a vehicle," Agabe said.
Police operatives from the Eleme Division moved swiftly, tracking the gang down and engaging them in a shootout that ended with one suspect in custody.
"In the course of the operation, the Police operatives engaged the suspected kidnappers, resulting in an exchange of gunfire. The operatives successfully arrested one member of the gang, Victor Ini, male, aged 35 years, a native of Akwa Ibom State," Agabe said.
In an interrogation video released on Wednesday, Ini gave police a detailed account of how the attack was planned, saying he had only just joined the operation and had yet to be paid.
"We went to the woman's shop to collect money from her, then drop her and leave. Her neighbour, Chukwuebuka, was the one who sent us on the attack. He told us the man had plenty of money and would give us. It was my first day with them. They had been monitoring her, but it was my first time,” Ini said.
He went on to name the others allegedly involved, describing the promise that had drawn him into the gang.
"The people working with me are Chukwuebuka, Chinedu, Okwozichi and Evance. This is my first time in the business, and I have not made any money. They promised to give me N40,000," he said.
Police said a search linked to the arrest turned up a vehicle and weapons believed to have been used in the abduction.
"One silver-coloured mini Keke bus, with registration number RBC 992 XE, Abuja," Agabe said, listing the recovered items as "Two locally made pistols, one live ammunition, one mobile phone, two identity cards, two black gowns and one vehicle number plate with registration number KRK 528 HG."
Agabe said efforts were ongoing to identify and arrest the other members of the gang named by the suspect.
The Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, CP Olugbenga Adewole Adepoju, assured residents that the command would continue to work to protect lives and property and bring criminals to justice, warning criminal elements that there would be no haven for them in the state.
The command urged members of the public to remain vigilant and provide credible information that could assist the police in tackling crime.
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