A tragic case of kidnapping and murder has come to light in Rivers State as police operatives arrested 26-year-old Goodnews Iberi for his involvement in the death of a young woman. The victim, 25-year-old Rita Special Eleonu, had been missing since mid-December, sparking a desperate search by her family and law enforcement.
The breakthrough in the case came after the victim’s brother filed a formal report on December 29, 2025. Following an intensive investigation, the state police command tracked Iberi, a native of the Rumuakunde community, to a hideout where he was apprehended on January 8. The suspect has already confessed to his role in the crime and provided chilling details about how the events unfolded.
Police reports indicate that Rita was lured to the Emohua axis on December 13 by Iberi and four other accomplices who are still on the run. The group reportedly held her captive in a forest along the East-West Road. Despite the suspects collecting a ransom payment of N210,000 from the victim’s family, they went ahead to kill her and leave her remains in the wilderness.
Following his confession, Iberi led officers from the Anti-Cultism Unit to the exact spot in the forest where the victim’s body was hidden. The decomposing remains have since been recovered and moved to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital morgue, where an autopsy will be performed to provide more clarity on the cause of death.
State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed that while one suspect is behind bars, the search for the remaining four members of the syndicate has intensified. The police have vowed to track down everyone involved in the abduction and killing of the Rumuekini native to ensure justice is served for the bereaved family.
