Police recover kidnap victim’s corpse, arrest 1 in Rivers
Police operatives in Rivers State have arrested 26-year-old Goodnews Iberi, a native of the Rumuakunde community in Emohua Local Government Area, in connection with the kidnapping and murder of one Rita Special Eleonu. The victim, a 25-year-old female, hailed from the Rumuekini community in Obio/Akpor LGA. Operatives also recovered the victim’s decomposing remains from a […]
A Nigerian Police Officer
Police operatives in Rivers State have arrested 26-year-old Goodnews Iberi, a native of the Rumuakunde community in Emohua Local Government Area, in connection with the kidnapping and murder of one Rita Special Eleonu.
The victim, a 25-year-old female, hailed from the Rumuekini community in Obio/Akpor LGA.
Operatives also recovered the victim’s decomposing remains from a forest where she was buried and deposited it at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) morgue for autopsy.
The spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, CSP Grace Iringe-Koko, in a statement on Monday, said the arrest followed a distress report made on December 29, 2025, by the victim’s brother.
She stated that on December 13, 2025, the suspect and four accomplices, who are currently at large, lured Rita to the Rumuakunde axis in Emohua LGA.
She was kidnapped and taken to a forest along the East-West Road in Emohua. The suspects reportedly collected a ransom of ₦210,000 from the victim’s family before murdering her.
According to the statement: “Acting on this distressing but credible piece of information, operatives of the command attached to the Anti-Cultism Unit (ACU), Emohua Annex, utilizing intelligence-led policing, arrested Iberi on January 8, 2026, at about 6.30 am at his hideout.
“During preliminary interrogation, the suspect voluntarily confessed to the crime, highlighting his role and further incriminating four other accomplices. He led police operatives to where the victim’s decomposing remains were buried. The remains have been recovered and deposited at the UPTH morgue for autopsy.
“The suspect is currently in police custody and an in-depth investigation has been launched, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of his syndicate.”