By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The Rivers State Police Command, on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, announced the killing of four pirates, suspected to be behind the abduction and subsequent murder of popular Port Harcourt fashion designer and socialite, Hope Georgewill.
The Police, also, informed that the corpse of Georgewill, who was kidnapped along the Cotton Channel of Bakana River, in Degema Local Council, has been recovered.
The Source reports that the renowned fashion designer and owner of the popular HMG Attitude Limited, was, on March 26, 2025, abducted together with two other occupants of a boat by suspected pirates
He was, however, killed by his abductors after they collected a ransom fee of N2 million.
But a statement from the Rivers State Police Command spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, said that four of the hoodlums were killed during a gun duel with Operatives.
“The Rivers State Police Command has made significant progress in an earlier report regarding the unfortunate kidnap and subsequent murder of one Hope Georgewill, the Chief Executive Officer of HMG Attitude Ltd who was abducted alongside two others on March 26, 2025, along the Cotton Channel, Bakana River, by a gang of notorious sea pirates led by one Preye Ngian-Ngian (make) a native of Degema Local Government Area, Rivers State.
Despite a ransom payment of two million Naira ( N2,000,000) made to the kidnappers, the body of the deceased was later recovered and deposited in the morgue”
“Relentless investigative efforts and intelligence-led policing on April 3, 2025, at about 0730hrs, operatives of the Anti-Cultism Unit ACU Emohua, in collaboration with intelligence gathered from two earlier arrested suspects in Yenagoa Bayelsa state, launched a tactical operation on the kidnappers’ hideout located in a creek off the Bonny Waterway.
“Upon arrival at the hideout, the operatives came under heavy gunfire from the hoodlums.
“The team responded with decisive force, and in the ensuing exchange, two of the suspects were fatally wounded, while others fled the scene with varying degrees of injuries.
“The two initial suspects who led the team to the location attempted to escape during the melee, but were later apprehended with gunshot wounds.
“All four wounded suspects were immediately transported to the Police Clinic for emergency treatment .
“However, upon arrival, the attending Medical Officer confirmed them dead .Their remains have since been deposited for autopsy”, the police statement reads in part.
According to Iringe-Koko, during the operation, several items including arms and ammunition, and one operational speedboat were recovered at the hideout.
Other items said to have been recovered include late Georgewill’s mobile phone ,one 80-horsepower and one 70 horsepower outboard engine respectively, one live cartridge and various food supplies.
While commending the efforts of the operatives, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju described the successful operation and elimination of the suspects as representing a significant breakthrough in the fight against crime and criminal activities in the state .
This is even as he assured that efforts are underway to track down fleeing members of the gang.
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