The Rivers State Police Command has arrested 14 suspects allegedly linked to one-chance robbery syndicates operating in Port Harcourt and its environs.
The arrests followed intelligence-led operations by the command’s Violent Crime Response Unit as part of efforts to tackle the growing cases of robbery and related criminal activities across the state.
The State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing journalists at the command headquarters in Port Harcourt.
According to the police, the operation began on August 18, 2026, when operatives stormed a suspected criminal hideout on Niger Street, Port Harcourt, at about 2:45am and arrested a 30-year-old suspect identified as Nelson Idakiniselegha, also known as Mandela.
The police said the suspect allegedly confessed to being a member of a five-man one-chance robbery syndicate and provided information that led investigators to other suspected members.
Further arrests followed on August 23 and 24, including Michael Matthew, 29, also known as Pilot; Kelly Edison, 30, alias BTC; Daniel Obodo, 18, alias Mazi; and Chisom Unegbu, 28, alias Favour.
The command identified Matthew as an alleged member of the Iceland cult group and the suspected leader of one of the one-chance syndicates operating around Aba Road, East-West Road, Choba and NTA Road.
Police said investigation also revealed that Idakiniselegha allegedly specialised in removing SIM cards from victims after robberies and using them to facilitate unauthorised withdrawals from their bank accounts.
A black-and-white Keke mini-bus with registration number RGM 823 XE, allegedly used for the criminal operations, was recovered. Sixteen assorted mobile phones suspected to have been stolen from victims were also recovered.
The police said the suspects were allegedly involved in operations across areas including Garrison, Aba Road, Rumuola, Air Force, Rumuokwurusi, Obiri-Ikwerre and Choba.
Adepoju said investigations were ongoing to identify and arrest other members of the syndicates, while efforts were also being made to trace victims and recover other proceeds of crime.
The commissioner assured residents that the command would continue intelligence-led operations against one-chance robbery, kidnapping, cultism and other violent crimes in Rivers State.
He also urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious persons, vehicles and criminal activities to the police rather than taking the law into their own hands.
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