A dangerous robbery scheme targeting tricycle operators in Port Harcourt has been uncovered and dismantled by the Rivers State Police Command, following the arrest of key suspects and recovery of stolen vehicles and weapons.

How the Robbery Happened

The case came to light after a tricycle operator, Sadiq Gara, reported a shocking incident to police at Octopus Base.

According to his account, on March 18, 2026, while operating in Elelenwo, he picked up three passengers. Midway into the trip, the passengers asked him to stop—only for one of them to pull out a gun and rob him of his tricycle.

Swift Police Response Leads to Arrest

Acting quickly on the report, police operatives launched an intelligence-led operation that led to:

• Recovery of the stolen tricycle
• Arrest of two suspects at a hideout in Igwuruta

The suspects were identified as:

• Abdullahi Mohammed (23)
• Yusuf Umaru (25)

Additionally, a third suspect, Mohammed Usman (28), believed to be a receiver of stolen items, was also arrested.

Weapons and Stolen Tricycles Recovered

During the operation, police recovered:

• One locally made pistol
• Two live cartridges
• Two stolen tricycles

All suspects reportedly confessed to the crime during interrogation.

A Larger Criminal Network Exposed

Further investigations revealed that the suspects were part of a larger syndicate responsible for robbing tricycle operators across:

• Elelenwo
• Igwuruta
• Tank
• Woji

In a shocking revelation, the gang admitted to stealing and transporting over 20 tricycles to northern states including:

• Kano
• Bauchi
• Adamawa

Victim Identifies Suspect

In a major breakthrough, another victim, Rosemary James, identified one of the suspects as a member of the gang that had previously robbed her of her tricycle earlier in the year.

Police Issue Strong Warning

The Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, has urged commercial tricycle operators to remain vigilant.

He advised operators to:

• Avoid picking suspicious passengers, especially at odd hours
• Report suspicious activities immediately

The Command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property and ensuring that criminal networks are dismantled across the state.

Manhunt Ongoing

Investigations are still ongoing, with efforts intensified to arrest other fleeing members of the syndicate and recover more stolen tricycles.