Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested two suspected sea pirates and foiled a planned hijack of an oil tanker in the Gulf of Guinea, marking a significant boost to maritime security efforts in the region.
Security sources said the suspects, Geoffrey Atizara, 38, from Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, and Divine Kelechi Unueze, 42, from Owerri, Imo State, were arrested at a hotel in the Edepie area of Yenagoa while allegedly finalising plans to attack a crude oil–laden vessel.
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Preliminary intelligence, supported by the suspects’ confessional statements, revealed that the duo were part of a wider criminal network involved in sea piracy and kidnapping across the South-South and South-East regions.
Investigations showed that the group planned to seize the vessel, abduct its crew and steal its cargo.
Sources disclosed that Unueze was believed to be the financier of the operation, while Atizara was responsible for recruiting additional members for the pirate gang. Officials described the syndicate as highly organised and well resourced, noting that the plot posed a serious threat to maritime security in the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea.
A security source said the arrests disrupted what could have been a major criminal operation, underscoring the impact of intelligence-driven interventions by the DSS.
The source added that the DSS, in collaboration with the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies, has intensified coordinated operations to curb maritime crimes. Recent efforts have led to the interception of pirate speedboats and the rescue of crew members from hijacked vessels off the coasts of Bayelsa and Delta states.
