Police arrest three suspects over murder of two officers in Rivers

Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have arrested three suspects allegedly involved in the murder of two policemen in Aluu, Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state.

The command said the officers were on stop-and-search duty in the Aluu area on June 29, 2026, when the assailants launched a commando-style attack, opened fire on them and carted away their AK-47 rifles.

According to a statement by the command’s spokesman, ASP Blessing Agabe, one of the officers had one of his legs amputated due to gunshot injuries sustained during the attack but eventually succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment at the hospital.

The statement said the arrest of the suspects followed directives from the State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, for a swift investigation, the arrest of the perpetrators and the recovery of the stolen rifles and other firearms in their possession.

It said that, following the directive, operatives of the command’s Violence Crime Response Unit, through credible intelligence and sustained tactical operations, trailed the suspects to their hideout and arrested them.

The statement reads: “The Rivers State Police Command has recorded a significant breakthrough in the investigation into the gruesome murder of two police officers who were attacked while conducting a stop-and-search operation within the Aluu Division area on 29th June, 2026, in which one of the officers’ legs was fatally injured and later amputated.”

According to the statement, following the tragic incident, which claimed the lives of the two officers and resulted in the theft of their service AK-47 rifles, the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, Olugbenga Adepoju, immediately visited the division and directed that all operational and intelligence assets of the command be deployed to ensure the arrest of the perpetrators and the recovery of the stolen police firearms.

The statement listed the arrested suspects as Maduabuchi Emeka, alias “Doctor”, aged 34, a native of Egbata Community in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of the state; Chinedu Owhor, 42, a native of Akabuka, also in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, but residing in Aluu Community; and Kamachi Joe, 28, a native of Egbata Community, also in ONE LGA.

The statement said the command had spread its dragnet to apprehend the fourth member of the gang, who is currently at large.

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police commended the operatives for their professionalism, gallantry and dedication, saying the breakthrough demonstrated the command’s resolve to ensure that those who attack police officers or engage in violent crimes have no hiding place in the state.

Police arrest three suspects over murder of two officers in Rivers