By Odo Ogenyi,Uyo
The Police in Akwa Ibom have rescued 28 fishermen kidnapped by a gang of sea pirates operating along the Athlantic coast in Akwakpa, in Uruan Local Council of the state.
State Police Commissioner , Olatoye Durosinmi who disclosed this while interacting with journalists in Uyo on Friday, said the fishermen were rescued through intelligence.
Durosinmi explained that he drafted marine officers who were able to rescue the victims at the creeks, where they were held hostage for over eight hours as soon as authorities were alerted of their kidnap adding that the pirates always pose as fishermen to carry out their nefarious act on unsuspecting fishermen.
“The 28 men and women you see here are the people rescued by police marine officers. The victims at about 18: 00hrs yesterday were attacked on the sea by a five man gang pirates. They seized their boat and put them where they will not come out.
“These men of the underworld will pretend to be fishermen and we’ve actually caught five of them before and they are in detention, the long arm of the law will soon catch up with them.
” The five armed gang pretending to be fishermen bumped into them and asked them to get into the boat. Fortunately, one of them had the phone number of the local government chairman who later alerted me. The usual practice is that they go out on Thursday and come back on a Sunday.
“They were there all through the night searching where they were and by 10:00hr my officers found them around a creek with their boats. As I speak, the detachment of the marine officers are still trailing the suspects.” The commisioner explained.
He said that the command would conduct a thorough medical check on the victims and thereafter reunite them to their families even as he promised to continue to ensure that the state”s land and water remain safe for the people.
“I have taken care of them and I will take them to police clinic and they will be released to members of their family soon. I want to assure the public that I will do all within my powers to ensure that Akwa Ibom is safe both land and sea.” Durosinmi said.
One of the victims, Victoria Pius said they were traders while the pirates collected all their money running into millions of Naira.
“I go there to buy fish. They collected about N1million from me alone, which was part of a loan I collected which I pay back N100, 000 monthly including money given to me by other people to buy things for them.
“They carried us to a place we didn’t know, they covered our faces, striped me to ensure I didn’t hide the money in my privates.
“They shot in the air severally, beat us mercilessly before collecting our things. They also carried our three boat engines. Thank God that police came this morning and rescued us.” She narrated.