Operatives from the Rivers State Police Command have arrested five suspected kidnappers in connection with the murder of Jeminiwa Richard Timothy, the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, and his son, Silas.
In a statement released on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, the command’s spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed that a significant cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from the suspects. The suspects have confessed to various kidnapping activities, including the killing of the father and son.
According to the statement, the arrests were made following a series of kidnapping incidents in the Rukpokwu, Igwuruta, Omagwa, and Etche areas. Acting on actionable intelligence, operatives from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit conducted a coordinated operation on March 8, 2025, starting around 9:30 a.m. The operation lasted eight hours, leading to the arrests of the following individuals:
- Mohammadu Bello, 30, from Padiki LGA, Kwara State, residing in Rukpokwu.
- Suleman Umar, 26, from Hadeja LGA, Jigawa State, residing in Rukpokwu.
- Bello Amadu, 35, from Keffi-Hausa LGA, Jigawa State, residing in Rukpokwu.
- Adamu Musa, 30, from Hadeja LGA, Jigawa State, residing in Rukpokwu.
- Abubakar Mohammed, 22, from Azare LGA, Bauchi State, residing in Rukpokwu.
During questioning, the suspects admitted to their involvement in multiple kidnappings, including the murder of the CSO and his son.
Recovered items from the suspects include:
- Two AK-47 rifles
- Six AK-47 magazines
- Sixty-six rounds of ammunition
- Three locally-made pistols
- Ten live cartridges
- Several mobile phones and SIM cards
The suspects are currently in police custody and cooperating with investigators. Authorities are continuing their efforts to uncover additional crimes committed by the syndicate and apprehend other members still at large.
The Rivers State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of residents, with further updates on the investigation to be provided soon.
