The Rivers State Police Command has intensified its crackdown on crime with the arrest of five suspected kidnappers and a suspected member of a ‘one chance’ robbery syndicate.

It also launched an investigation into the mysterious death of a middle-aged man whose body was found on the Obiri-Ikwerre Flyover in Port Harcourt.

The five suspected kidnappers were arrested during a coordinated, intelligence-led operation by operatives of the Oyigbo Divisional Police Headquarters, following the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju.

In a statement, the command’s spokesperson, ASP Blessing Agabe, identified the suspects as Ezekiel Emmanuel, 44, from Benue State; Chukwuma Mbanefor, 51, from Anambra State; Nicholas Diala, 65, from Imo State; Ndubuisi Uwakwe, 49, from Abia State; and Ifeanyi Nwakwo, 51, from Imo State.

According to the police, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly confessed to participating in kidnapping operations in Kom-Kom, Railway, Obeama and Afam communities in Oyigbo Local Council and neighbouring areas.

Agabe said investigations were ongoing to identify and apprehend other members of the syndicate still at large.

In a separate operation, the command arrested a 27-year-old suspected member of a “one chance” robbery syndicate operating in Port Harcourt.

The suspect, identified as Frank Kingsley, was apprehended on Sunday night near the Air Force Flyover during a police operation.

The police spokesperson said preliminary investigations indicate that Kingsley is a member of a criminal gang involved in ‘one chance’ robberies across the city.

She added that the suspect had made useful confessional statements that were assisting investigators, while efforts were ongoing to arrest other members of the gang and recover additional stolen items.

She said the suspect would be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.

Meanwhile, the command has commenced an investigation into the death of an unidentified middle-aged man whose lifeless body was discovered on the Obiri-Ikwerre Flyover on Saturday.

Agabe said the body had been evacuated to a mortuary for preservation and further examination, while detectives work to determine the circumstances surrounding the death and identify those responsible.

She noted that the deceased’s identity remains unknown, as no family member or relative has come forward to claim the body.

The command appealed to members of the public with useful information that could help identify the deceased or assist the investigation to report to the nearest police station.