Five Arrested in Connection with Kidnap, Murder in Rivers State

Police spokesperson SP Grace Iringe-Koko stated that the incident occurred last September. According to her, the victim’s mother, Gloria George, reported her son’s disappearance to the command just hours after they last spoke. She informed the police that the suspects initially demanded a N300,000 ransom for his release.

She explained that after the payment was made, the suspects increased the ransom to N2.5 million but killed him before the family could send the additional money.

Iringe-Koko provided the following details: “On November 1, 2024, at approximately 2:10 PM, the Rivers State Police Command received a distressing report from Gloria Iyenemi George of Peace Valley Estate, Woji, Port Harcourt. She reported that on September 10, 2024, at approximately 3:30 PM, her 34-year-old son, Rowland Horsfall, left home to attend meetings on Dr. Peter Odili Road and in GRA, Port Harcourt.

“She further informed the police that at approximately 9:00 PM, she called her son to check on his whereabouts, and he told her he was returning home. Shortly afterward, all subsequent attempts to reach him were unsuccessful until approximately 5:05 AM on September 11, 2024, when he called again, informing her that he was being held hostage. His abductors demanded a N300,000 ransom for the return of his phone.

“Later, her son called again, demanding N2.5 million as instructed by his abductors. She sent N300,000. The abductors sent pictures and voice notes to the victim’s girlfriend, threatening to kill him if they did not receive the full N2.5 million promptly. She eventually sent the N300,000 into the victim’s bank account, believing it would secure his release, but he remained in captivity.”

The police spokesperson continued, “Upon receiving this complaint, police operatives acted swiftly, arresting the prime suspect, Endurance Friday Thompson, at his hideout in Woji town at approximately 1:00 PM on November 3, 2024.

“During interrogation, the suspect confessed that on September 11, 2024, at approximately 3:00 AM, he and his gang members met the victim behind the Port Harcourt Zoo in Trans-Amadi. They held him captive and demanded ransom. When the victim’s family could not meet their demands, they beat him to death and dumped his body along Queens/Kings Bakery, Abuloma Road, Port Harcourt. The police later recovered the body and deposited it at the mortuary.”

The police spokesperson confirmed the arrest of five suspects in connection with the kidnapping and murder: Endurance Friday Thompson (23), Boma Otonye (41), David Link Ishaku (34), Moses Nsikak Benjamin (29), and Emmanuel Aniete (32).

She stated that all suspects have confessed to the crime and that investigations are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing suspects. Iringe-Koko added that the suspects will be charged upon completion of the investigation.