The Rivers State Police Command has arrested two suspected cultists accused of luring a motorcycle rider from Jigawa State, identified as Sani Musa, into a forest in Mbiama, Ahoada West Local Government Area, where they allegedly stabbed him to death and stole his motorcycle.
After allegedly killing the victim, the suspects concealed his remains in the forest before fleeing with his motorcycle, according to the police.
The command said the suspects were arrested following credible intelligence that they had been sighted dismantling a motorcycle suspected to be stolen at Choba Motor Park in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
The spokesperson for the command, Blessing Agabe, confirmed the arrests and recovery of the victim’s decomposing remains in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Friday.
Agabe, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, identified the suspects as Abubakar Sani, 24, and Yusuf Magaji, 20, both from Kano State.
She said the suspects confessed to the crime during interrogation and disclosed that they had planned to transport the stolen motorcycle to Kano State through a waybill.
The statement partly read, “The Rivers State Police Command has recorded a significant operational breakthrough in its ongoing efforts to rid the State of criminal elements, with the arrest of two suspected cultists allegedly involved in the gruesome murder of a motorcycle rider and the subsequent recovery of the victim’s remains in a forest in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.
“On 22nd October 2026, at about 1300hrs, following credible intelligence, operatives of the Command attached to the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Emohua, received information about some suspected cultists sighted at Choba Motor Park, allegedly dismantling a motorcycle suspected to have been stolen.
“Acting promptly, the operatives moved to the scene and arrested two suspects identified as one Abubakar Sani, male, aged 24 and one Yusuf Magaji, male, aged 20, both natives of Kano State.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects allegedly lured one Sani Musa, a motorcycle rider from Zago Town, Kafin Hausa Local Government Area of Jigawa State, to a forest in Mbiama Town, Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State, where they reportedly stabbed him to death.
“They (suspects) allegedly concealed his remains in the bush before making away with his motorcycle.
“During investigation, the suspects confessed to the crime and disclosed that they planned to transport the stolen motorcycle to Kano State through a waybill.”
The statement added that the suspects led operatives to the forest, where the victim’s remains were recovered.
It said the victim’s family was subsequently contacted and arrangements made for the release of the remains for burial in accordance with Islamic rites and customs, as requested by the family.
Speaking on the development, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Olugbenga Adepoju, directed that the investigation be intensified to establish all the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Adepoju also charged the investigating officers to identify possible accomplices and ensure that everyone involved was brought to justice.
He reiterated the command’s determination to rid Rivers State of cultism, murder and other violent crimes.
“Members of the public are encouraged to continue providing timely and credible information to the Police, as public cooperation remains vital in identifying criminal elements and promptly preventing crime across the State,” the statement advised.
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