The Rivers State Police Command has successfully dismantled a notorious “one-chance” robbery and kidnapping syndicate that has been terrorising residents across Port Harcourt and its surrounding communities. The major breakthrough resulted in the arrest of 14 suspects, including two women, who are allegedly linked to both violent criminal operations and local cultism. The State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, disclosed these details during an official press briefing at the command headquarters in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, where the suspects were paraded before journalists.

According to Commissioner Disu, the coordinated law enforcement operation was launched in response to a surge of complaints from members of the public who had fallen victim to the daredevil criminals. Operating primarily within and outside the state capital, the syndicate utilized commercial vehicles to trap unsuspecting commuters under the guise of regular transit before robbing, assaulting, or kidnapping them for ransom. The rising wave of these tactical street crimes had prompted the police to deploy specialized operatives to track down the network.

During the parade, the police chief reassured the public of the command’s total commitment to securing the state and flushing out remnants of violent gangs. He noted that intelligence-led raids are still ongoing to capture other fleeing members of the syndicate. Meanwhile, the 14 suspects currently in custody are undergoing profiling and rigorous interrogation, and they will be formally charged to court as soon as preliminary investigations are concluded.

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.

During the briefing, the Commissioner of Police detailed the operation’s success, highlighting the recovery of key exhibits used by the syndicate, including a black-and-white Keke mini-bus with registration number RGM 823 XE. Additionally, operatives confiscated 16 assorted mobile phones believed to have been stolen from various victims during the gang’s operations. These recoveries serve as crucial evidence linking the suspects to the widespread wave of transit-related crimes in the area.

Explaining how the syndicate was brought down, the CP stated that the crackdown was a direct response to incessant reports of “one-chance” robberies plaguing the Port Harcourt metropolis. To address the public outcry, he personally directed the Violent Crime Response Unit to intensify intelligence-led operations. This strategic deployment allowed tactical teams to successfully track, infiltrate, and dismantle the criminal network.

“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 Commissioner of Police revealed that a suspect in custody confessed to the existence of an additional four-man “one-chance” robbery syndicate. This particular gang actively targeted commuters along highly traveled routes in Port Harcourt, including the Garrison, Aba Road, Rumuola, Air Force, Rumuokwurusi, Obiri-Ikwerre, and Choba axes . This critical insider information allowed investigators to expand their dragnet and target the leadership of the offshoot criminal ring.

Following up on the confession, police operatives launched a tactical operation that led to the arrest of 29-year-old Michael Matthew (popularly known as “Pilot” ) on August 23, 2026, at approximately 10:30 PM. The CP confirmed that Matthew is identified as a member of the notorious Iceland cult group and served as the ringleader for the syndicate operating heavily around the Aba Road, East-West Road, Choba, and NTA Road corridors of the city.

“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.