The Rivers State Police Command has arrested three suspects linked to a series of tricycle robberies in parts of Port Harcourt, with a firearm and stolen tricycles recovered during the operation.
The Command disclosed this in a statement posted on its official X handle on Tuesday by its Public Relations Officer CSP Grace Iringe-Koko.
According to the police, the case was reported on March 19 2026, by a tricycle operator Sadiq Gara, who alleged that he was robbed a day earlier in Elelenwo after picking up three passengers.
Police said one of the passengers brought out a gun during the trip and dispossessed him of his tricycle.
According to the statement, operatives tracked the suspects to a hideout in Igwuruta leading to the arrest of Abdullahi Mohammed, 23, and Yusuf Umaru, 25.
Another suspect, Mohammed Usman 28, identified as a receiver of stolen items, was also arrested in connection with the case.
“The suspects confessed to the crime during interrogation,” the statement said.
Items recovered from the suspects include a locally made pistol, two live cartridges and two stolen tricycles.
The police added that another victim, Rosemary James, identified one of the suspects as part of a gang that had earlier robbed her of her tricycle.
Preliminary findings, according to the Command indicate that the suspects belong to a syndicate involved in tricycle theft across Elelenwo, Igwuruta, Tank and Woji areas of Port Harcourt.
Police further revealed that the suspects admitted to moving over 20 stolen tricycles through a receiver to northern states including Kano, Bauchi and Adamawa.
“The suspects also admitted having delivered over twenty stolen tricycles to the receiver,” the statement added.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Olugbenga Adepoju, urged commercial tricycle operators to remain alert and report suspicious movements.
He said, “Members of the public, particularly tricycle operators, should remain vigilant and avoid picking up suspicious passengers, especially at odd hours.”
The Command noted that investigation is ongoing, with efforts underway to arrest other members of the gang and recover more stolen items.
Police arrest robbery suspects, recover stolen tricycles in Port Harcourt
