The Rivers State Police Command has arrested three suspected members of a criminal gang allegedly responsible for the killing of two police officers during a stop-and-search operation in Aluu, Ikwerre Local Government Area, and recovered three AK-47 rifles, including two reportedly stolen from the slain officers.

The officers were attacked on June 29, 2026, while on duty within the Aluu Division.

According to the police, one of the officers sustained severe injuries to his leg, which was later amputated before he eventually died. The attack also claimed the life of another officer, while their service AK-47 rifles were carted away by the assailants.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Blessing Agabe, in a statement on Tuesday, said the Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adewole Adepoju, immediately ordered the deployment of the command’s operational and intelligence assets to track down those responsible and recover the stolen weapons.

The statement said operatives of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit, acting on credible intelligence and sustained tactical operations, arrested three suspects identified as Maduabuchi Emeka, alias “Doctor,” 34; Chinedu Owhor, 42; and Kamachi Joe, 28. All three suspects are natives of Omoku in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.

Police said exhibits recovered from the suspects include three AK-47 rifles and one Scorpion rifle.

Investigators also alleged that the suspects had made useful confessions linking the gang to other murder cases currently under investigation.

According to the command, efforts are ongoing to arrest a fourth member of the gang who remains at large.

Commending the operatives for the successful operation, the Commissioner of Police described the arrests as a demonstration of the command’s determination to ensure that perpetrators of violent crimes are brought to justice.

He reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property in line with the policing vision of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, warning criminals that Rivers State would not serve as a safe haven for criminal activities.

Adepoju also appealed to residents to continue supporting the police by providing timely and credible information that would assist security agencies in combating crime across the state.