Rivers Police nab 5 kidnappers who lure victims through dating sites

By Davies Iheamnachor Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have arrested five kidnappers who specialise in luring their victims through online dating sites. The operatives also rescued a female victim in the custody of the abductors who was lured into Port Harcourt through the online platform. The Public Relations Officer of the Command, Blessing Agabe, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, in a statement in Port Harcourt, Tuesday, said the suspects were tracked following intelligence.

Agabe stated that the victim, Chinyere, came in from Delta State for a visit and was kidnapped along Igwuruta-Etche Road in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State. She said: “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 Igwuruta, Etche Road in Rivers State.

“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.” Agabe said that the suspects during investigation confessed to the crime, advising members of the public to be careful of dating platforms. She said: “During investigation, the suspects confessed to their involvement in the kidnapping and disclosed information about other kidnapping incidents within Igwuruta and Etche.

They further disclosed that they lured victims from within and outside Port Harcourt through online dating sites before abducting them.”