Police arrest five suspects over ‘abduction, murder’ of 34-year-old man in Rivers

The police command in Rivers says its operatives have apprehended five suspects over the murder of 34-year-old Rowland Horsefall in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Grace Iringe-Koko, the command’s spokesperson, identified the suspects as Endurance Thompson (23), Moses Benjamin (29), Emmanuel Aniete (32), David Ishaku (34) and Boma Otonye (41).

The spokesperson said the suspects  were arrested after an intensive manhunt by security operatives.

Iringe-Koko said the suspects abducted Horsefall near the Slaughter market area of Port Harcourt on September 10, 2024.

She said the kidnappers subsequently killed the victim after receiving a ransom payment from his mother and girlfriend.

“This tragic case began on November 1 when we received a distress call from one Gloria Iyenemi, a resident of Peace Valley Estate, Woji Town, reporting the abduction of her son,” the statement reads.

“Horsefall left home around 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 10 to attend meetings at Dr Peter Odili Road and the Government Reserved Area, both in Port Harcourt.

“Horsefall answered his mother’s call around 9 p.m., assuring her that he was on his way home.

“However, after a prolonged wait, Iyenemi tried calling again, but all attempts to reach him were unsuccessful.”

The police spokesperson said the victim’s mother received a call the following morning from Horsefall, informing her that he had been abducted.

She said the kidnappers demanded a ransom of N2.5 million for his release, but Iyenemi was only able to send N300,000.

“Subsequently, the kidnappers sent pictures and voice messages to Horsefall’s girlfriend, threatening to kill him unless she transferred an additional N300,000 to his bank account, which she promptly did. However, Horsefall was not released” the police spokesperson added.

Iringe-Koko said after the report of the crime, the police launched an investigation that led to the arrest of  Thompson.

“During interrogation, Thompson confessed to kidnapping Horsefall behind the Port Harcourt Zoo in the Trans Amadi Industrial area,” she said.

“He revealed that after receiving ransom payments, the gang beat the victim to death and dumped his body along Queens/Kings Bakery at Abuloma road.”

The police spokesperson said the suspects would be charged in court, adding that officers are tracking other members of the gang who are at large.