The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested two suspected sea pirates, recovering firearms and four stolen engine boats.
In a statement on Tuesday by the Spokesperson of the command, SP Odiko Macdon said due to several complaints about sea pirates in some parts of the Akwa Ibom State waterways, special tactical deployments were initiated by the State’s Police commissioner to make the waterways safer.
He noted that the suspects were apprehended by operatives of the Mbo Division, who recovered four firearms and four stolen engine boats.
According to the PPRO, “Piqued by complaints about sea pirates in some parts of Akwa Ibom State waterways, the Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State, CP Andrew Amiengheme, fdc, psc(+) commenced special tactical deployments to make the waterways safer. These deployments are beginning to yield positive results.
“Relying on a robbery complaint on 6/11/2021 at about 11:45am, Operatives of Mbo Division, led by the DPO, SP John Abua, arrested one Ability Emmanuel Okpet a.k.a “Blacky” ‘m’ at Ibaka in Mbo L.G.A.
“His confessions caused the DPO to lead a joint team of Police Operatives and the Nigerian Navy, Forward Operation Base, Ibaka to arrest one Joshua Ezekiel a.k.a “Gogo” m’ of Andoni L.G.A, Rivers State, but residing at Esuk Ewang in Mbo L.G.A.
“The suspects conspired with other members of their gang, now at large, in separate robbery operations on the 3/11/2021 at about 9:00 pm, along the Point three High Sea, robbed four (4) fishermen of their fishes, 15 horsepower outboard engine, valued at seven hundred and seventy-five thousand naira (N775,000.00), two G.S.M phones valued at forty-five thousand naira (N45,000.00).
“During interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime and led the Operatives to where one (1) locally made pistol, one (1) locally made the double-barrel shotgun, and two (2) locally made long barrel guns used for the operations were hidden in a shallow pit.
“Other exhibits recovered include three (3) stolen 9.9HP Suzuki Outboard Engines, one (1) 40HP Yamaha Outboard Engine, one (1) itel phone and two (2) bottles of concoction.”
Macdon said while efforts are being made to arrest other fleeing gang members, those arrested would be charged to court at the conclusion of investigations.
