The Rivers State Police Command has made a breakthrough in a harrowing case of kidnapping and murder, arresting a prime suspect linked to the abduction and killing of a young woman after her family paid a ransom.
Arrest Follows Distress Call from Victim's Brother
According to police reports, the investigation was launched on December 29, 2025, following a distress call from the brother of the victim, Rita Special Eleonu. The 25-year-old woman, a native of Rumuekini Community in Obio Akpor Local Government Area, was reported missing under suspicious circumstances.
Police swiftly initiated an investigation, which revealed a tragic sequence of events. It was discovered that on December 13, 2025, Rita was lured to the Rumuakunde axis in Emohua LGA. There, she was kidnapped by a gang of five individuals.
Ransom Paid Before Brutal Murder in 'Evil Forest'
The kidnappers subsequently contacted the victim's family, demanding a ransom for her release. The family, in a desperate bid to secure her freedom, paid the sum of Two Hundred and Ten Thousand Naira (N210,000) to the captors.
Despite receiving the payment, the suspects did not release Rita. Instead, they took her to a secluded area described as an 'evil forest' along the East-West Road in Emohua, where they murdered her.
Intelligence-Led Policing Leads to Capture
Acting on credible intelligence, operatives from the command's Anti-Cultism Unit (ACU), Emohua annex, tracked down one of the alleged perpetrators. On January 8, 2026, at about 6:30 AM, the police arrested Goodnews Iberi, a 26-year-old from Rumuakunde Community in Emohua LGA, at his hideout.
During preliminary interrogation, the suspect voluntarily confessed to the crime. He detailed his role in the kidnapping and murder and named four other accomplices who are currently at large.
In a grim development, Iberi led police operatives to the forest where Rita's body had been dumped. The police recovered her decomposing remains, which were later deposited at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) Morgue for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
The Rivers State Police have confirmed that the suspect is currently in custody. An in-depth investigation is ongoing, and efforts are being intensified to apprehend the remaining four members of the criminal syndicate.
