From Porthacourt.
Police in Rivers State have rescued a 13-year-old girl who was abducted while running an errand in Umuebule, Etche Local Government Area, even as a suspected kidnap kingpin was shot dead during a gunfight with law enforcement.
In a statement issued on June 12, 2025 and a copy available to The Reporters on Sunday in Lokoja, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed that the teenager was kidnapped on June 5 at about 3:30 p.m. while carrying out a chore for her mother.
In the statement, it was revealed that shortly after her disappearance, the family began receiving phone calls from unknown persons demanding a ransom of ₦2 million and threatening to kill the girl if the demand was not met,she said.
Acting swiftly on credible intelligence, operatives of the C4i Intelligence Unit arrested an 24-year-old female suspect from Igbo-Etche, believed to be the subscriber of the SIM cards used to make ransom calls.
The woman claimed her phone was stolen on the same day the girl went missing.
Further investigations led to the arrest of 36-year-old Chizoba Andrew Obi, identified as the prime suspect and alleged leader of a four-man kidnapping syndicate.
The kidnapped girl was found unharmed in a fenced forest compound in the Umuechem community, also in Etche LGA. Recovered at the scene were a locally made pistol and a live cartridge.
During interrogation, Obi reportedly confessed to being the mastermind behind several kidnappings in the region.
He later led police operatives into the forest to recover additional weapons.
However, upon sighting the officers, his gang members opened fire, triggering a fierce exchange of gunfire.
In the ensuing shootout, Obi attempted to escape but was hit by bullets during the crossfire.
He was rushed to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), where he was pronounced dead.
His body has since been deposited at the hospital mortuary for autopsy. Other gang members reportedly fled the scene with varying degrees of gunshot wounds.
The rescued girl has since been debriefed and reunited with her family.
Meanwhile, the police have launched a manhunt for the fleeing suspects and are working to recover additional weapons used by the gang.
Commending the operatives for their bravery, the Commissioner of Police, CP. Olugbenga A. Adepoju, reassured residents of the command’s commitment to combating crime and securing the state.
He urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious individuals, especially those with gunshot wounds, to the nearest police station or relevant security agencies.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
