Two Suspects Arrested Over Murder of Motorcyclist in Rivers

The Rivers State Police have arrested two men linked to the murder of a motorcycle rider from Jigawa State. The victim, Sani Musa, was reportedly lured into a forest in Mbiama, Ahoada West Local Government Area, where the suspects allegedly stabbed him to death and took his motorcycle.

After killing Sani, the suspects hid his body in the forest and fled with the bike, police said.

The police caught the suspects after receiving tips that they were seen taking apart a motorcycle believed to be stolen at Choba Motor Park in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.

Blessing Agabe, the police spokesperson, confirmed the arrests and the recovery of Sani's decomposed body in a statement released in Port Harcourt on Friday.

Agabe, who is an Assistant Superintendent of Police, named the suspects as Abubakar Sani, 24, and Yusuf Magaji, 20, both from Kano State.

She mentioned that the suspects admitted to the crime during questioning. They also revealed plans to send the stolen motorcycle back to Kano State using a waybill.

The statement said, "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."

It continued, "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."

The investigation showed that the suspects had lured Sani Musa 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.

The suspects concealed his body in the bush before escaping with the motorcycle.

During questioning, the suspects confessed to the murder and said they planned to take the motorcycle to Kano State using a waybill.

The statement added that the suspects guided police to the forest, where they recovered the victim’s remains.

The victim’s family was later informed, and arrangements were made to release the remains for burial according to Islamic rites as requested by the family.

In response to this incident, the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Olugbenga Adepoju, ordered that the investigation should continue to uncover all the details surrounding the case.

Adepoju also instructed officers to look for any accomplices and ensure all those involved are brought to justice.

He emphasized that the command is committed to eliminating cultism, murder, and other violent crimes in Rivers State.

"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 concluded.