Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have rescued a 10-year-old boy from the den of his abductors and arrested one Nwile Bete, the suspected kidnap kingpin.

The Command said the achievement is part of its broader efforts to combat kidnapping and other forms of crime in the state, in line with the Inspector-General of Police?s mandate.

The victim was kidnapped from Aluu in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state on the 25th of November, 2024, but was rescued unhurt on the 18th of December from a hideout in Khana LGA.

The Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, disclosed that mother of the victim had reported the incident to police on the 4th of December and that police swung into action.

Iringe-Koko in a statement in Port Harcourt, yesterday, hinted that Bete and his gang had abducted the little boy, moved him to Khana LGA and were demanding N5,000,000 ransom before they were apprehended.

The PPRO noted that upon arrest, the suspect confessed to the crime and that efforts are on to arrest other fleeing members of the gang.

She said: ?The Rivers State Police Command has achieved a significant breakthrough with the arrest of a notorious kidnap kingpin and the successful rescue of 10-year-old Emmanuel Jonah.

?Recall that on December 4, 2024, Florence Jonah, f, of Redeemed Camp, Aluu Junction, Port Harcourt, reported that her son, Emmanuel Jonah, m, was allegedly kidnapped on November 25, 2024. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of Five Million Naira (?5,000,000) for his release.

?Acting swiftly on this credible information, operatives from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit utilized technical intelligence to apprehend one Nwile Bete, aged 30, m, of Rumuekeni School Road, Rumuekeni Town.

?During interrogation, Bete confessed to the crime and led police operatives to Sogho Village in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, where Emmanuel was rescued unharmed.?

Iringe-Koko disclosed that the victim has so far reunited with his family, adding that the suspect would be charged to court upon completion of investigation.

?The victim has been reunited with his family after debriefing, and the suspect is currently in police custody.

?Investigations are ongoing to apprehend other gang members, and the case will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation,? she said. (Vanguard)