BREAKING: Police bust one-chance syndicate in Rivers, arrest five

The Rivers State Police Command said its men smashed a one-chance syndicate and arrested five suspects including three females along the Trans-Amadi axis of Port Harcourt.

The police said the arrest followed a distress call by a female victim who raised the alarm after occupants of a car attacked her and zoomed off.

The State Police Command. spokesman, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Wednesday and sent to newsmen.

Iringe-Koko, acting on the distress call the police ‘Surveillance Patrol Team’ attached to a popular mall in the metropolis immediately mobilised and went after the suspects, apprehending five and recovering the vehicle.

The statement reads, “The Rivers State Police Command has made another significant breakthrough, apprehending five suspects allegedly involved in a “One Chance” syndicate.

“On the 28th of January, 2025, at about 0900 hours, the Surveillance Patrol Team attached to the Hyper City Unit of the Rivers State Police Command, while on patrol along NLNG Road, Eastern Bypass, Port Harcourt, received a distress call from a victim (name withheld), a female resident of Federal Housing Estate, Trans-Amadi, Port Harcourt. She reported that her phone had been stolen by the occupants of a green Volkswagen Vento saloon car with registration number ANAMBRA FGG 40 AA.

“The team swiftly took action, intercepted the vehicle, and arrested the following suspects: Ifeanyi Ugo, age 45, Paulina Ibe (female), (45), Nneka Precious Sunday (female), age 30, Christopher Ibe, (31), Oyinyechi Ibe (female), (48).

“A preliminary investigation is ongoing, with the suspects and the recovered vehicle currently in police custody. The Rivers State Police Command remains committed to tackling the menace of “One Chance” criminals who disguise themselves as tricycle and taxi operators to rob unsuspecting passengers.”