The Rivers State Police Command said its operatives have smashed a one-chance robbery and kidnapping syndicate terrorising residents of Port Harcourt and its environs, with 14 suspects arrested.
The command further said the suspects, including two women, were also linked to cultism before their arrest.
The State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, disclosed this while parading the suspects before journalists at the command’s headquarters in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
Adepoju said their arrest followed a myriad of complaints from members of the public over the activities of the daredevil criminals within and outside the state capital.
According to him, actionable intelligence by operatives paid off with the initial arrest of five suspects, after which more arrests were made.
“I am here to provide updates on the arrest of suspected members of a one-chance robbery syndicate operating within Port Harcourt and its environs.
“The suspects arrested are Nelson Idakiniselegha ‘M’, aka Mandela, 30 years; Michael Matthew ‘M’, aka Pilot, 29 years; Kelly Edison ‘M’, aka BTC, 30 years; Daniel Obodo ‘M’, aka Mazi, 18 years; and Chisom Unegbu ‘M’, aka Favour, 28 years,” Adepoju stated.
He listed the exhibits recovered from them to include one Keke mini-bus with registration number RGM 823 XE, black and white in colour, and 16 assorted mobile phones suspected to have been stolen from victims.
Giving details of their activities, CP Adepoju said, “Following incessant reports of one-chance robbery incidents within the Port Harcourt metropolis and its environs, I directed the Violent Crime Response Unit to intensify intelligence-led operations against the criminal syndicates.
“Acting on actionable intelligence, operatives of the command, on August 18, 2026, at about 0245hrs, stormed a suspected criminal hideout on Niger Street, Port Harcourt, where one Nelson Idakiniselegha ‘M’, aka Mandela, aged 30 years, was arrested.
“During interrogation, the suspect, who hails from Nkoro Town, Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State, confessed to being a member of a five-man one-chance robbery syndicate.”
The CP said the suspect further disclosed the existence of another four-man one-chance robbery syndicate operating along Garrison, Aba Road, Rumuola, Air Force, Rumuokwurusi, Obiri-Ikwerre and Choba axes of Port Harcourt.
“Further investigation led to the arrest of Michael Matthew ‘M’, aka Pilot, aged 29 years, on August 23, 2026, at about 2230hrs,” he added.
He continued, “The suspect was identified as a member of the Iceland cult group and the ringleader of one of the syndicates operating around Aba Road, East-West Road, Choba and NTA Road axes of Port Harcourt.
“Similarly, Kelly Edison ‘M’, aka BTC, aged 30 years, and Daniel Obodo ‘M’, aka Mazi, aged 18 years, were arrested at their respective hideouts in connection with the alleged one-chance robbery syndicates. During investigation, the suspects confessed to their involvement in the criminal activities.”
Adepoju said investigations further revealed that Nelson Idakiniselegha, the first suspect, specialised in extracting SIM cards from victims and using them to facilitate unauthorised withdrawals from their bank accounts.
“On August 24, 2026, at about 1320hrs, one Chisom Unegbu ‘M’, aka Favour, aged 28 years, identified as the driver of the syndicate, was arrested at a hotel on Aker Road, Port Harcourt. A mini-bus with registration number RGM 823 XE, black and white in colour, suspected to have been used as the operational vehicle of the syndicate, was recovered.
“Also recovered were 16 assorted mobile phones, suspected to have been dispossessed from victims during the alleged one-chance robberies,” he stated.
The CP said a total of 14 suspects linked to the one-chance syndicates had been arrested, adding that efforts were ongoing to identify and arrest other members of the networks, trace their victims and recover other proceeds of crime.
“In total, fourteen suspects involved in one-chance robberies were arrested, and efforts are ongoing to identify and arrest other members of the syndicates, dismantle their network, identify and trace their victims, and recover other proceeds of crime in their custody.
“Our tactical and investigative units have been directed to sustain intelligence-led operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks across Port Harcourt and other parts of the state. I therefore urge members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons, vehicles and criminal elements for prompt action,” he stated.
