The Rivers State Police Command has apprehended five suspects connected to the murder of 34-year-old Rowland Horsefall, who was declared missing on September 10, 2024.
The spokesperson of the Command and a Superintendent of Police, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed this in a statement on Thursday.
She gave the names of the suspects as Endurance Thompson, 23; Moses Benjamin, 29; Emmanuel Aniete, 32; David Ishaku, 34; and Boma Otonye, 41, who are all males.
Iringe-Koko told journalists in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Tuesday that the suspects were apprehended after an intensive manhunt.
She alleged that the suspects abducted Horsefall near the Slaughter Market area of Port Harcourt and later killed him, even after receiving a ransom payment for his release.
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“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,” she stated.
According to Iringe-Koko, Horsefall left home around 3:30pm on September 10 to attend meetings at Dr. Peter Odili Road and the Government Reserved Area, both in Port Harcourt.
She said that Iyenemi attempted to contact him later that evening when he failed to return home.
She added: “Horsefall answered his mother’s call around 9pm, 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 at 5:05am on September 11, Iyenemi received a call from Horsefall, informing her that he had been abducted.
She said that the kidnappers later demanded a ransom of N2.5 million for his release, but Iyenemi sent N300,000 as part of the ransom.
She said: “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.”
Iringe-Koko reported that following the report of the crime, the police launched an investigation, leading to the arrest of Thompson, one of the suspects.
She said: “During interrogation, Thompson confessed to kidnapping Horsefall behind the Port Harcourt Zoo in the Trans Amadi Industrial Area.
“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 officer indicated that the suspects would be charged to court, while efforts are underway to apprehend other members of the gang who are at large.
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