The Rivers State Police Command has arrested five suspects in connection with the kidnapping and murder of 34-year-old Rowland Speech Horsefall.
The Command, in statement by the its Spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said the victim’s mother, Gloria Iyenemi George, had reported to the police that her son left home on September 10, 2024, to attend meetings in Port Harcourt but failed to return.
The statement also revealed that Mrs George received a distress call from her son on September 11, 2024, informing her that he was being held hostage and demanded a ransom of N300,000.
She noted that the kidnappers later increased the ransom to N2.5 million. Despite paying N300,000, the victim remained in captivity.
Iringe-Koko, however, said operatives of the Command, acting on the report, arrested the prime suspect, Endurance Friday Thompson, a 23-year-Old male, on November 3, 2024 and upon interrogation the suspect confessed to the crime, revealing that he and his gang members beat the victim to death and dumped his remains along Abuloma road in Port Harcourt.
She added that other suspects arrested in connection with the crime include Boma Otonye, 41; David Link Ishaku, 34; Moses Nsikak Benjamin, 29; and Emmanuel Aniete, 32, further disclosing that all the suspects had confessed to the crime.
She explained: “On the 1st of November 2024 at about 1410hrs the Rivers State Police Command received a distressing report from one Gloria Iyenemi George ‘f’ of Peace Valley Estate Woji Port-Harcourt suggesting that on the 10th. of September, 2024 at about 1530hrs, her son named Rowland Speech Horsefall ‘m’ aged 34yrs left home to attend meetings in Dr Peter Odili road and GRA Port Harcourt respectively.
“She further informed the Police that at about 2100hrs, she called the son to know his location and he informed her that he was heading back home. Shortly after that all subsequent attempts made to reach him were unsuccessful until about 0505hrs of 11th. September, 2024 was when the son called again and informed her that he was being held hostage and his phone seized and demanded that he should pay a ransom of Three Hundred Thousand Naira (#300,000.00) before he could have his phone back.
“After a while the son called again and demanded the sum of Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira (#2,500,000.00), from her as instructed by his abductors, but she sent him Three Hundred Thousand Naira. The supposedly abductors sent to the victim’s girlfriend, pictures and voice notes threatening to kill him if they do not receive the Three Hundred Thousand Naira in a reasonable time and eventually, she sent the Three Hundred Thousand Naira into the victim’s bank account to secure his release, yet the victim remained in captivity.”
The Police Public Relations Officer, further stated that investigation is ongoing, and efforts are being intensified to apprehend other fleeing suspects, stressing that the suspects will face charges upon completion of the investigation.
