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Marine Police operatives in Akwa Ibom State have rescued a Ghanaian fisherman and other victims allegedly abducted by suspected sea pirates along the coastal waters of Ibeno Local Government Area.
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The rescue followed credible intelligence from residents, leading officers of the Asawana Mobile Police Base to intercept the suspected pirates near the maritime boundary between Akwa Ibom and Rivers States.
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A gun battle reportedly forced the suspected pirates to abandon their boat and flee into a nearby creek, allowing the police to rescue the abducted fishermen without injury. Several boats, outboard engines, fuel containers, mobile phones and other items were recovered.
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The Police Command has warned sea pirates, kidnappers and other violent criminal networks operating in the state that they will be pursued and prosecuted, while urging residents and coastal communities to provide timely intelligence to security agencies.
October 6, (THEWILL) – The Akwa Ibom Police Command has rescued a Ghanaian fisherman and other victims allegedly abducted by suspected sea pirates along the coastal waters of Ibeno Local Government Area of the state.
The rescue operation, carried out by Marine Police operatives following credible intelligence provided by residents, reportedly foiled the attempt by the suspected pirates to take the victims further into the Atlantic Ocean.
The Spokesperson of the Police Command, DSP Timfon John, who disclosed the development, said the victims were rescued along the waterways of Ibeno.
According to her, the police received information that a group of fishermen, including a Ghanaian national, had been attacked and abducted by suspected sea pirates while travelling towards the Atlantic Ocean.
“Acting on the intelligence, personnel of the Asawana Mobile Police Base were immediately mobilised to the area to locate the victims and apprehend the perpetrators. The operatives subsequently encountered the suspected pirates around the ocean boundary between Akwa Ibom and Rivers States, where a gun battle ensued”, she said, noting that the suspected pirates, apparently overwhelmed by the police response, abandoned their boat and escaped into a nearby creek.
“The victims were subsequently rescued unharmed by the operatives”, she added.
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The police also recovered several items from the scene, including one 200-horsepower outboard engine, one 40-horsepower outboard engine with a W23 flying boat, five 40-horsepower outboard engines and three 9.9-horsepower outboard engines.
Other items recovered were five containers of mixed Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, four empty containers, three gas cylinders, mobile phones, 29 SIM cards, a power bank, a starter motor battery, a torchlight and an identity card bearing a National Identification Number, NIN, among other items.
The operation is coming amid persistent security concerns along Nigeria’s coastal waterways, where criminal elements have been accused of engaging in piracy, kidnapping, illegal oil-related activities and attacks on fishermen and other maritime users.
Police Warn Criminals
Commending the officers involved in the operation, the Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom Command, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, urged personnel to sustain their courage, professionalism, vigilance and prompt response to emergencies.
Azare also commended residents of the affected communities for providing information that enabled the police to respond swiftly to the incident.
He stressed that effective policing requires cooperation between security agencies and members of the public, particularly in communities located along the state’s extensive waterways.
The Commissioner warned individuals and criminal networks involved in sea piracy, abduction, vandalisation of critical infrastructure and other violent crimes that the Command would continue to identify, pursue and bring them to justice in accordance with the law.
He, however, reiterated that all suspects remain presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Azare urged residents, particularly those living and operating around the state’s coastal communities, to remain vigilant and provide credible and timely information to the police through appropriate channels.
He cautioned members of the public against confronting suspected criminals or taking the law into their own hands, advising them instead to promptly report suspicious persons, movements and activities to security agencies.
The Commissioner assured residents that the Akwa Ibom Police Command remained committed to protecting lives and property, preventing and detecting crime, maintaining public order and ensuring the safety and security of residents across the state.
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