The Rivers State Police Command has announced a major breakthrough in the investigation into the kidnap and murder of Hope Georgewill, CEO of HMG Attitude Ltd, who was abducted on March 26, 2025, along the Cawthorne Channel in the Bakana River.
In a press statement released by the command’s spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, four suspects linked to the incident were fatally wounded during a gun battle with operatives of the Anti-Cultism Unit (ACU), Emohua, on April 3. The operation, carried out in a creek off the Bonny Waterway, was based on intelligence obtained from two earlier arrests made in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The suspects, led by a notorious sea pirate identified as Preye Ngian-Ngian, had kidnapped Georgewill alongside two others, despite collecting a ransom of ₦2 million. Georgewill’s body was later recovered and deposited in a morgue.
According to the statement, police operatives came under heavy fire upon arriving at the suspects’ hideout. In the exchange, two suspects were killed instantly while the other two, including the previously arrested individuals who attempted to escape during the chaos, were apprehended with gunshot wounds. All four were taken to the police clinic but were declared dead on arrival.
Recovered from the scene were a speedboat, two outboard engines, Georgewill’s mobile phone (SIM card removed), one live cartridge, and food supplies used by the kidnappers.
Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga A. Adepoju, praised the officers for their bravery, stating that the development is a strong step in dismantling criminal networks operating in the state’s waterways. He reiterated the Command’s commitment to ensuring the safety of all residents and visitors in Rivers State.
Further investigations are ongoing, with assurances that the public will be kept informed as new findings emerge.
