The Rivers State Police Command has rescued a 24-year-old woman who was abducted on her arrival in Port Harcourt to meet a friend she met online.

The police also arrested five suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate accused of luring victims through online dating platforms.

Confirming the arrests, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Blessing Agabe, said the suspects had allegedly confessed to their involvement in the crime during interrogation.

The victim, identified as Chinyere, reportedly travelled from Delta State to Port Harcourt on October 3, 2026, to visit the acquaintance, but was allegedly kidnapped along Igwuruta-Etche Road in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The incident was reported to the police on October 4, 2026, at about 9 a.m., prompting the Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, to direct operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, Diobu, to investigate the case and secure the victim’s release.

The police operatives subsequently rescued the woman and arrested five suspects allegedly linked to the kidnapping syndicate.

The suspects were identified as Gift Okeregwu, 23, from Okehi Community in Etche Local Government Area; Okeregwu Onyekachi, 27, also from Okehi; Bright Augustine, 27, from Akukabu Community in Etche; Chijoke Nwalozie, 35, from Akukabu; and Obinachi Rita, 26, the only female suspect.

The suspects were reportedly arrested at different locations following intelligence gathering and investigations into the circumstances surrounding the victim’s abduction.

She said information obtained from the suspects had also provided investigators with leads regarding other kidnapping incidents reported around the Igwuruta and Etche axis.

According to the police spokesperson, the suspects allegedly admitted using online dating platforms to establish contact with prospective victims from within and outside Port Harcourt before luring them into physical meetings and abducting them.

The development has raised concerns over the potential misuse of online dating platforms by criminal elements to identify, deceive and target unsuspecting individuals.

The Command advised members of the public to exercise caution when engaging with strangers online, particularly those who request physical meetings without sufficient verification of their identities.

It further urged residents to inform trusted persons of their movements when meeting people encountered online and to choose public locations for initial meetings as a precaution against possible criminal attacks.

The police reiterated their commitment to combating kidnapping and other violent crimes in Rivers State, urging members of the public to provide credible information that could assist security agencies in identifying and apprehending criminal suspects.

King Onunwor

The Rivers State Association of The Deaf has called on the State Government to strengthen the implementation of disability rights laws, and construct more schools for deaf children in the state.

It also called for the expansion of employment and empowerment opportunities for persons with hearing impairments in the state.

The association made the call recently at the 2026 Deaf Awareness Week held at the Women Development and Skills Acquisition Centre, Eastern Bypass, Port Harcourt,

The week has as its theme, “Declaring Deaf People’s Human Rights: Advancing Deaf People’s Human Rights in Rivers State.”

The programme, organised by the Rivers State Association of the Deaf (RSAD), was aimed at raising awareness about the rights, welfare and challenges of deaf persons and promoting theirinclusion in governance, education, healthcare, employment and other aspects of society.

The South-South Zonal Coordinator of the Nigerian Association of the Deaf, Henry Obotu, said one of the major challenges confronting deaf persons in Rivers State was their exclusion from government activities and inadequate access to public information because of communication barriers.

Obotu called for the effective implementation of disability rights legislation, stressing that deaf persons should enjoy equal opportunities and participate fully in public life.in public life.

He noted that government announcements and other important information were often disseminated without sign language interpretations, thereby making it difficult for deaf persons to understand issues affecting them.

Obotu urged media organisations to incorporate captions and subtitles into their broadcasts and public information materials to ensure that members of the deaf community were not left behind.

According to him, the establishment of specialized schools and learning centres for deaf persons, their educational and communication needs required appropriate attention and support.

Similarly, the Chairman of the Rivers State Association of theDeaf, Comrade So-oriari T. Beneth, called for greater government support for the deaf community, including skills acquisition programmes, employment opportunities and improved educational facilities.

Beneth expressed appreciation to the state government for its support for the association, but stressed the need for sustained commitment to the welfare and empowerment of deaf persons.

He identified education, economic empowerment and accessibility as key areas requiring government intervention, and urged authorities to provide adequate resources for schools serving deaf students and expand vocational training and employment opportunities.

According to him, investing in the deaf community would enable its members to become self-reliant and contribute meaningfully to the development of Rivers State.

Godslove Justice, Sunday Naomi &Christopher Kelechi

The Eze Gbakagbaka of Evo Kingdom, His Majesty, King Leslie N. Eke, has declared zero tolerance for land grabbing, fraudulent land transactions and unlawful destruction of properties in hos kingdom, and warned  perpetrators to desist or face prosecution.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Senior Special Adviser on Public Affairs, Human Rights and External Relations to the monarch, Chief Omenazu Jackson, in Port Harcourt.

The Eze Oha Evo III of Evo Kingdom expressed displeasure over reports of illegal land acquisition, demolition of buildings, destruction of farmlands and displacement of residents from their homes by suspected land speculators across Evo Kingdom.

He described the alleged activities as a serious threat to the ancestral heritage, economic livelihoods, security and peaceful coexistence of the Evo people, saying that the kingdom would not tolerate any attempt to undermine the lawful rights of its people.

“Evo Kingdom is not a no-man’s land, and we will not surrender our ancestral heritage to land grabbers, fraudulent speculators or their willing collaborators. Our ancestral lands are not available for unlawful acquisition, intimidation or destruction”, the statement quoted the monarch.

He stressed that the protection of ancestral lands was fundamental to preserving the identity, history and collective heritage of Evo Kingdom, warning individuals and groups against laying claim to, selling or developing land without establishing legitimate legal ownership.

He also cautioned prospective land buyers, property developers and investors to conduct proper investigations, verify land titles and ensure that transactions complied with applicable laws and recognised landholding procedures before committing their resources.

The Eze Oha Evo III called on the Nigeria Police Force, relevant security agencies, land administration authorities and prosecutor institutions to investigate reported cases of land grabbing, identify those responsible and prosecute anyone found culpable in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He urged community leaders, landholding families and residents to cooperate with lawful authorities by reporting suspicious land transactions, illegal encroachments, threats and acts of destruction of property.

While reaffirming his commitment to peace and the peaceful resolution of disputes, the monarch said the protection of Evo Kingdom’s ancestral heritage must not be compromised by individuals seeking unlawful personal gains.

He stated that ancestral lands throughout the kingdom must be respected, legitimate property rights protected, and anyone involved in illegal land grabbing held accountable through appropriate legal processes.

He advised residents, landowners, investors and prospective property developers to respect the territorial heritage of Evo Kingdom and ensure that all land-related transactions were conducted transparently and in accordance with the law.

King Onunwor