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Police rescue fishermen, including a Ghanaian national, after suspected sea pirates attacked and abducted them along the Ibeno waterways.
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Operatives recover 10 outboard engines, a flying boat, PMS containers, 29 SIM cards and other items allegedly linked to the maritime operation.
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Police arrest two suspects over alleged transformer vandalism in Mkpat Enin and recover stolen transformer components, electrical tools and a live cartridge.
October 2, (THEWILL) – The Akwa Ibom Police Command has rescued a group of fishermen, including a Ghanaian national, allegedly abducted by suspected sea pirates along the waterways of Ibeno Local Government Area, recovering several outboard engines and other items from the suspects.
The rescue operation, which occurred on Wednesday, followed information received by the Command at about 7:00 a.m. that fishermen travelling towards the Atlantic Ocean had been attacked and abducted by suspected sea pirates.
According to the Command, personnel of the Asawana Mobile Police Base were immediately deployed to the area and subsequently encountered the suspected pirates around the ocean boundary between Akwa Ibom and Rivers States.
The encounter reportedly resulted in an exchange of gunfire, forcing the suspected pirates to abandon their boat and flee into a nearby creek, while the police rescued the victims unharmed.
Among the items recovered were one 200HP outboard engine, one 40HP outboard engine with a W23 flying boat, five 40HP outboard engines and three 9.9HP outboard engines.
The police also recovered 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.
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In a separate operation in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, the Command arrested two suspects over the alleged vandalisation of a community transformer and recovery of its components.
The suspects were arrested after police received information at about 3:11 a.m. on Thursday that suspected criminals had vandalised a transformer and transported the stolen components in a tricycle before transferring them into a red minibus.
Police operatives reportedly intercepted the suspected vehicle along the Etinan route, but the occupants allegedly opened fire on the officers during the ensuing pursuit and escaped into a nearby bush.
A coordinated search involving members of the community led to the arrest of Chinedu Onwe, 31, of Ikwo LGA, Ebonyi State, and Enobong Jonah, 35, of Otoro Abak Village, Abak LGA, Akwa Ibom State.
Recovered items included three large transformer solenoids, a live cartridge, electrical tools, a large steel cutter, a Tecno mobile phone, a tricycle allegedly used to transport the vandalised components and a red minibus with registration number ABIA 986 SSM.
The Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, commended the officers involved in both operations for their prompt response, courage and professionalism.
He also acknowledged the role of residents in providing information that contributed to the operations, stressing that effective policing requires cooperation between security agencies and the public.
Speaking exclusively with THEWILL, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, said the Command would sustain intelligence-led operations against maritime criminals and those targeting critical infrastructure.
“The message is clear: we will continue to pursue criminals wherever they operate, whether on the waterways or against critical infrastructure.
‘We also need the continued cooperation of the public because timely and credible information can make the difference between preventing a crime and responding to it”, Timfon said.
The Commissioner warned suspected sea pirates, abductors, transformer vandals and other criminal networks that the Command would continue to identify and bring offenders to justice in accordance with the law.
He, however, stressed that all suspects remain presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
The Command urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons, movements and activities to the police, warning members of the public against confronting suspected criminals or taking the law into their own hands.
