The Rivers State Police Command has arrested 14 suspects allegedly linked to one-chance robbery syndicates operating across Port Harcourt and its environs.
The Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing journalists at the command headquarters in Port Harcourt.
Adepoju said the arrests followed repeated complaints over one-chance robbery incidents in the metropolis and surrounding areas, prompting him to direct the command’s Violent Crime Response Unit to intensify intelligence-led operations.
According to the commissioner, the operation began with the arrest of Nelson Idakiniselegha, also known as Mandela, during a raid on a suspected criminal hideout on Niger Street, Port Harcourt, on August 18, 2026.
The 30-year-old suspect allegedly told investigators that he belonged to a five-man one-chance robbery syndicate and provided information about another group operating across several parts of the city.
Further investigation led to the arrest of Michael Matthew, alias Pilot, on August 23. Police identified him as an alleged member of the Iceland cult group and alleged ringleader of a syndicate operating around Aba Road, East-West Road, Choba and NTA Road.
Kelly Edison, known as BTC, and 18-year-old Daniel Obodo, alias Mazi, were subsequently arrested at their respective hideouts, according to the police.
Chisom Unegbu, alias Favour, was also arrested at a hotel on Aker Road on August 24. Police identified him as an alleged driver for one of the syndicates.
The command said it recovered a black-and-white mini-bus with registration number RGM 823 XE, which it suspects was used in the operations.
Sixteen assorted mobile phones allegedly taken from victims were also recovered.
Adepoju said investigators discovered that Idakiniselegha allegedly specialised in removing SIM cards from victims and using them to facilitate unauthorised withdrawals from their bank accounts.
The commissioner said the five suspects publicly identified during the briefing were part of a wider group of 14 suspects arrested in connection with the alleged one-chance operations.
He said investigations were continuing to identify other members, trace victims and recover additional proceeds of crime.
The arrests come as concerns over one-chance robberies continue to feature in security discussions in Port Harcourt, where criminals often disguise themselves as commercial transport operators to gain access to unsuspecting passengers.
The latest operation also follows a previous 14-suspect one-chance crackdown in Rivers in 2024, when the command announced the arrest of alleged robbers who disguised themselves as tricycle and taxi operators.
Adepoju said the command had directed its tactical and investigative units to sustain intelligence-led operations against criminal networks across Port Harcourt and other parts of Rivers State.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious people, vehicles and criminal activities to the police.
The commissioner also stressed the importance of public cooperation in helping investigators identify victims and dismantle the remaining networks.
The police said efforts were ongoing to identify other members of the syndicates, trace their victims and recover additional proceeds of crime.
