The Akwa Ibom State Police Command successfully rescued two kidnapped victims of sea piracy on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, along the waterways of Ibeno Local Government Area. The victims, a Ghanaian national and a Nigerian man, were attacked while traveling toward the Atlantic Ocean. Police operatives from the Asawana Mobile Police Base responded swiftly, engaging suspected pirates in a gunfight near the ocean boundary between Akwa Ibom and Rivers States. The pirates fled into a nearby creek after abandoning their vessel, leaving the hostages unharmed.
Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Baba Azare, revealed these details during a press conference in Uyo on Friday. He emphasized that the timely intervention prevented further harm to the victims and disrupted criminal activities in the region. The police recovered several items linked to the pirates, including one 200HP outboard engine, one 40HP outboard engine with a W23 flying boat, five additional 40HP engines, three 9.9HP engines, five containers of mixed 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 Identity Number (NIN).
In another development, police arrested two suspected transformer vandals with the help of community members in Etinan. The suspects, identified as Chinedu Onwe, 31, from Ikwo LGA, Ebonyi State, and Enobong Jonah, 35, from Otoro Abak Village, Abak LGA, Akwa Ibom State, were apprehended following a coordinated operation. Items seized included three large transformer solenoids, one live cartridge, assorted electrical tools, a large steel cutter, a Tecno mobile phone, a tricycle used to transport stolen components, and a red minibus registered ABIA 986 SSM.
CP Azare commended the officers for their professionalism, courage, and prompt response in both operations. He also expressed gratitude to the local communities for their cooperation and timely intelligence, which played a crucial role in the successes achieved. He stressed that effective policing is a shared responsibility between law enforcement and the public, urging continued collaboration to combat crime.
These operations highlight the increasing efforts by Akwa Ibom Police to tackle maritime insecurity and infrastructure vandalism. The successful rescue of the kidnapping victims and arrest of the vandals underscore the command’s commitment to public safety and security. Authorities remain vigilant, especially along vulnerable waterways and critical infrastructure zones, as they work to maintain peace and order across the state.
Leave a Comment