The Rivers State Police Command has arrested members of a suspected tricycle robbery syndicate operating in parts of Port Harcourt and its surrounding areas.
The arrest followed a report by a tricycle operator, identified as Gara, who stated that on March 18, 2026, at about 9:00 a.m., he picked up three passengers in Elelenwo. According to him, the passengers later asked him to stop, and in the process, one of them pulled out a gun and robbed him of his tricycle.
Police operatives quickly launched an investigation and successfully recovered the stolen tricycle.
Further intelligence-led operations led to the arrest of two suspects at their hideout in the Army Range area of Igwuruta. The suspects were identified as Abdullahi Mohammed, 23, and Yusuf Umaru, 25.
In addition, a third suspect, Mohammed Usman, 28, believed to be a receiver of stolen items, was also apprehended.
According to the police, the suspects confessed to the crime during interrogation. Recovered items include a locally made pistol, two live cartridges, and two stolen tricycles.
During the investigation, another victim, Rosemary James, identified one of the suspects as a member of the gang that had earlier robbed her of her tricycle this year.
Preliminary findings revealed that the suspects are part of a wider syndicate responsible for robbing tricycle operators across Elelenwo, Igwuruta, Tank, and Woji areas.
Police also disclosed that the suspects admitted to delivering more than 20 stolen tricycles to a receiver, who then transported them to Kano, Bauchi, and Adamawa States.
The investigation is ongoing, with efforts underway to arrest other members of the gang and recover more stolen tricycles.
The Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, urged members of the public, especially commercial tricycle operators, to remain vigilant, avoid picking up suspicious passengers—particularly at odd hours—and report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station.
The Command also reassured residents of its continued commitment to protecting lives and property across the state.
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