The Rivers State Police Command has arrested five suspected cult members for the kidnapping and murder of 34-year-old entertainer, Roland Horsfall, in Port Harcourt.
Popularly known as Speech Horsfall, a radio presenter, event host and retired man, Roland was kidnapped in September 2024.
Spokesperson of the command, Grace Iringe Koko, in a statement on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, said the suspects, identified as members of an Icelandic cult, continued to demand ransom even after the victim’s mother was killed.
The PPRO revealed that the cult members initially demanded a ransom of 2.5 million naira from Horsfall’s mother, but the mother had already transferred 300,000 naira into her son’s account, unaware that he had already been killed.
She contacted the police as the demand seemed suspicious, and they had to intervene immediately. Irinji Koko said the ordeal began on September 10, 2024, when Horsfall left his home at Peace Valley Estate, Woji, to attend a meeting in Port Harcourt.
Later that evening, he called his mother to tell her he was on his way home.
But the next morning, Horsfall called his mother to tell her he was being held hostage and demanded 300,000 naira to get his confiscated mobile phone back.
Soon after, the kidnappers increased their demand to 2.5 million naira, threatening dire consequences if their demands were not met.
“The perpetrators also sent threatening images and audio messages to the victim’s girlfriend, warning her that they would kill Mr. Horsfall if the ransom was not paid immediately,” the statement said. Despite paying N300,000, the victim remained in captivity.
The suspects eventually beat him to death and dumped his body beside Queens/Kings Bakery, Aburoma Road, Port Harcourt.
Acting on the complaint of his mother, policemen launched an investigation and arrested the main suspect, Endurance Friday Thompson, in Woji Town on November 3, 2024.
During interrogation, Thompson confessed to the crime and detailed how he and his gang members held Horsfall captive, killed him after failing to receive the ransom, and disposed of his body.
The other suspects arrested are Boma Otonye, alias Excess Chief (41), David Link Ishaku, alias Biggie (34), Moses Nsikaku Benjamin, alias Aboye (29) and Emmanuel Anyete (32). All the suspects have reportedly confessed to the crimes, but efforts are still ongoing to arrest the other fugitive gang members.
Iringe Koko advised youths to be careful in their associations and actions so as not to fall prey to criminal elements.
“The command is intensifying investigations to ensure the full application of the law to the remaining suspects,” she added.