The Rivers State Police Command has arrested three individuals suspected to be involved in a series of tricycle robberies in different parts of Port Harcourt. During the operation, officers also recovered a firearm and some stolen tricycles.

The development was announced in a statement shared on the Command’s official X account on Tuesday by its Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko.

According to the police, the incident was first reported on March 19, 2026, by a tricycle operator identified as Sadiq Gara. He alleged that he was robbed the previous day in Elelenwo after picking up three passengers.

Police said that during the journey, one of the passengers pulled out a gun and forcefully took his tricycle.

Following investigations, operatives traced the suspects to a hideout in Igwuruta, where two suspects — Abdullahi Mohammed, 23, and Yusuf Umaru, 25 — were arrested. Another suspect, Mohammed Usman, 28, believed to be a receiver of stolen property, was also taken into custody in connection with the case.

According to the statement, the suspects reportedly admitted to their involvement during interrogation.

Items recovered from them include a locally made pistol, two live cartridges, and two stolen tricycles.

Police also revealed that another victim, Rosemary James, identified one of the suspects as a member of a group that had previously robbed her of her tricycle.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects are part of a syndicate responsible for tricycle thefts in areas such as Elelenwo, Igwuruta, Tank, and Woji within Port Harcourt.

The Command further disclosed that the suspects confessed to transporting more than 20 stolen tricycles through a receiver to northern states including Kano, Bauchi, and Adamawa.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Olugbenga Adepoju, advised commercial tricycle operators to remain cautious and report suspicious activities promptly.

He urged operators to be vigilant and avoid picking up passengers who appear suspicious, particularly during late hours.

The police added that investigations are still ongoing, with efforts being made to apprehend other members of the gang and recover additional stolen items.