Gloria George’s life was shattered when her 34-year-old son, Horsefall Rowland, was found dead following a kidnapping ordeal. Rowland failed to return home on September 10, 2024, after informing his mother that he had a meeting in Port Harcourt’s Peter Odili Road and Government Reserved Area (GRA), Rivers state, Nigeria.
According to reports from Vanguard, Rowland reassured his mother via phone at 10 pm that he was heading home. However, after he failed to return and became unreachable, Gloria grew increasingly concerned. Her worst fears were confirmed at 5 am the following day when Rowland called, frantically stating he had been kidnapped.
In an attempt to secure Rowland’s release, the family initially transferred ₦30,000 to his captors, who sent threatening voice notes and pictures, warning of severe consequences. Despite further ransom payments, including ₦300,000, Rowland’s body was tragically discovered along Queens/Kings Bakery Abuloma Road in Port Harcourt.
Recounting the ordeal to police on November 1, 2024, Gloria George revealed the series of ransom demands made by Rowland’s captors. She explained:
“When he called on September 9, 2024, around 5:05 am, he said some people had taken his phone and held him hostage. He asked for ₦30,000 to settle them, which I sent. After that, they demanded ₦2.5 million but eventually agreed to ₦300,000.
They sent voice notes and pictures to his girlfriend, warning us that if we didn’t send the money quickly, we should consider him dead. The money was transferred to Rowland’s account, but that was the last we heard from him.”
The Rivers State Police Command’s Special Operation and Intelligence Team arrested five suspects linked to the case: Endurance Thompson (23), Boma Otonye (41), David Ishaku (34), Moses Benjamin (29), and Emmanuel (32).
Endurance Thompson, the primary suspect, was arrested at his hideout in Woji. He confessed that Rowland was killed after attempting to pay for cocaine with a fake bank transfer. According to Thompson, Rowland was a regular customer who owed ₦150,000 for previous purchases.
“I have known Rowland since December 2023. He usually came to buy ‘Charlie’ (cocaine). But he had been using fake transfer alerts. I got an alert, but my account balance didn’t change. He owed me ₦150,000. I raised the alarm, and he was beaten.
Later, he begged me to take him to the hospital. I called Justice, who told me to bring him over. Rowland died in the Keke Marwa that took him to Justice’s place. Justice and Michael later dumped his body beside a bakery,” Thompson revealed.
Rivers State Police spokesperson SP Grace Iringe-Koko confirmed that Rowland’s body had been deposited at the morgue. She assured the public that efforts are ongoing to apprehend other suspects involved in the incident.
