The Rivers State Police Command has arrested two suspected members of an armed robbery syndicate accused of targeting and luring young women through hook-up arrangements to hotel rooms in Port Harcourt.

The suspects, identified as 27-year-old Albert Koko-ete Hanson, a married man, and 18-year-old Wisdom Okon, both from Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, were apprehended following a rescue operation involving hotel security personnel.

One of the victims, who identified herself simply as Faith, narrated her ordeal to journalists.

According to her, she was contacted by a hotel staff member who said a guest needed her services.

Upon arrival at the hotel, she was taken to a two-bedroom apartment where the suspects were lodged.

Faith alleged that the suspects showed her a photograph of another lady, claiming they knew her and accusing the lady in the picture of collecting N5 million from them. She said they demanded that she pay the money.

According to her, the suspects seized her mobile phone and forced her to disclose her password in an attempt to access her bank account. However, she had no money in the account at the time.

She further disclosed that another female victim had already been tied up and blindfolded inside the toilet before her arrival.

The suspects allegedly brought the victim out, stripped both women, assaulted them, and tied them up again while threatening to harvest their organs.

Faith explained that a third female victim, who was later brought into the apartment, managed to send a distress message to her friends in the same hotel while the suspects were attempting to force her to reveal her bank application password. The friends alerted hotel security personnel, who intervened and rescued the three victims.

The prime suspect, Albert Koko-ete, reportedly confessed to the crime.

Confirming the arrest, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Command, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Grace Iringe-Koko, said the suspects specialised in targeting young women they perceived to be affluent.

She disclosed that the suspects often singled out “classic” girls carrying high-end mobile phones, such as iPhone 15 and above, believing they could extort substantial sums of money from them or their relatives.

Iringe-Koko further revealed that the prime suspect had allegedly made over N18 million in six years from the illicit operation.

The police spokesperson urged young women to avoid engaging in prostitution, popularly known as “hook-up,” warning of the dangers associated with such activities.

She advised them to acquire legitimate skills to improve their livelihoods. She added that the suspects would be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations.