The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 26-year-old man, Goodnews Iberi, in connection with the kidnapping and of a 25-year-old woman, Rita Eleonu, along the Emuoha axis of the East-West Road in Rivers State.
The arrest was confirmed in a statement issued on Monday in Port Harcourt by the Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko. She disclosed that the suspect, working with four accomplices who are currently at large, lured the victim before abducting her and taking her into a forest along the East-West Road.
According to the police, the suspects contacted the victim’s family shortly after the abduction and demanded ransom. The family reportedly paid ₦210,000 in a bid to secure her release. However, unknown to them, the abductors later ed Rita for suspected ritual purposes and buried her in a shallow grave within the forest before fleeing the area.
Iringe-Koko said both the suspect and the victim are natives of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state. Following a distress report filed by the victim’s brother on December 29, 2025, operatives attached to the Anti-Cultism Unit, Emohua Annex, launched an intelligence-led operation.
The operation led to the arrest of Iberi in the early hours of January 8, 2026, at his hideout in Rumuakunde Community, Emohua LGA. During preliminary interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed to the crime and implicated four other gang members. He also led police operatives to the forest where the decomposing remains of the victim were exhumed and deposited at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital morgue for autopsy.
The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, commended the swift response of the officers involved and assured the public that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects. He urged residents to remain vigilant and continue to provide credible information to assist the police in combating crime, assuring informants of confidentiality and protection.
Do we need harsher penalties for those involved in such heinous crimes? Lets discuss this disturbing trend.
Do you think the police are doing enough to prevent such heinous crimes? Or is there more that needs to be done?
Do you think the police are doing enough to stop these heinous crimes, or is there more that needs to be done?
Do you think the police are doing enough to prevent such heinous crimes or are they reactive instead of proactive?
Is the Rivers Police doing enough to prevent such heinous crimes, or are they reacting too late? Lets discuss!
Do you think the police are doing enough to prevent such heinous crimes, or are they always one step behind?