The police in Rivers State said they have recovered the corpse of a popular Port Harcourt-based fashion designer, Hope Georgewill, who was abducted by suspected pirates along the Cotton Channel, Bakana River in the Degema Local Government Area of the state.

Recall that Georgewill was kidnapped alongside two other boat passengers on March 26, 2025.

The state Police command, however, said four of the suspects allegedly involved in the murder of Georgewill, who is the Chief Executive of HMG Attitude Ltd, were killed during a shootout with its operatives.

The spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a statement sent to newsmen in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

The statement said, “The Rivers State Police Command has made significant progress in an earlier report regarding the unfortunate kidnap and subsequent murder of one Hope Georgewill, the Chief Executive Officer of HMG Attitude Ltd, who was abducted alongside two others on March 26, 2025, along the Cotton Channel, Bakana River, by a gang of notorious sea pirates led by one Preye Ngian-Ngian (make) a native of Degema Local Government Area, Rivers State.

“Despite a ransom payment of Two Million Naira (?2,000,000) made to the kidnappers, the body of the deceased was later recovered and deposited at the morgue.”

The command said following credible intelligence on April 3, 2025, men of the Anti-Cultism Unit in Emohua, in collaboration with intelligence gathered from two earlier arrested suspects in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, launched a tactical operation on the kidnappers’ hideout located in a creek off the Bonny Waterway.

It stated, “Relentless investigative efforts and intelligence-led policing, on April 3, 2025, at about 0730hrs, operatives of the Anti-Cultism Unit (ACU), Emohua, in collaboration with intelligence gathered from two earlier arrested suspects in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, launched a tactical operation on the kidnappers’ hideout located in a creek off the Bonny Waterway.

“Upon arrival at the hideout, the operatives came under heavy gunfire from the hoodlums.”

It continued, “The team responded with decisive force, and in the ensuing exchange, two of the suspects were fatally wounded, while others fled the scene with varying degrees of injuries.

“The two initial suspects who led the team to the location attempted to escape during the melee but were later apprehended with gunshot wounds.”

Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, said while operatives were combing the creek, they recovered several arms and ammunition as well as one operational speedboat.

Other exhibits, she said, were one 80-horsepower and one 70-horsepower outboard engine, respectively, one live cartridge, and food supplies used by the kidnappers.

She further said late Georgewill’s mobile phone was recovered but that the miscreants had removed the SIM card.

The state police image maker added, “All four wounded suspects were immediately transported to the Police Clinic for emergency treatment.

“However, upon arrival, the attending medical officer confirmed them dead. Their remains have since been deposited for autopsy.”

Speaking, the State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, commended his men for their efforts, describing the felling of the suspected pirates as a ‘significant breakthrough’.

Adepoju vowed that the command under his watch would make the state uncomfortable for criminals to operate, saying they would rid the waterway and communities of criminals.

He said the Command remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of all residents and visitors to the state.

According to the state Police image maker, “Further investigations are ongoing, and the public will be updated with any new developments.” (The PUNCH)