The Akwa Ibom State Police Command successfully rescued two kidnapped victims of sea piracy on September 30, 2026, along the waterways of Ibeno Local Government Area. The victims, a Ghanaian national and a Nigerian, were attacked while traveling towards the Atlantic Ocean. Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Baba Azare, disclosed this at a press conference in Uyo on Friday.
According to CP Azare, personnel of the Asawana Mobile Police Base were immediately mobilized to the area after the kidnapping incident. The operatives encountered the suspected pirates around the ocean boundary between Akwa Ibom and Rivers States, resulting in an exchange of gunfire. The suspected pirates eventually abandoned their boat and escaped into a nearby creek.
The police successfully rescued the victims unharmed during the operation. The Commissioner listed the items recovered from the scene to include one 200HP outboard engine, one 40HP outboard engine with a W23 flying boat, five 40HP outboard engines, and three 9.9HP outboard engines. Other recovered items included five containers of mixed PMS, four empty containers, and three gas cylinders.
In addition to the rescue operation, the police also arrested two suspected transformer vandals in Etinan. The suspects, Chinedu Onwe, 31, of Ikwo LGA, Ebonyi State, and Enobong Jonah, 35, of Otoro Abak Village, Abak LGA, Akwa Ibom State, were apprehended with the cooperation of community members. Items recovered during the operation included three large transformer solenoids and assorted electrical tools.
The Commissioner commended the officers and men involved in both operations for their courage, professionalism, vigilance, and prompt response. He also appreciated members of the affected communities for their timely information and cooperation, which contributed significantly to the successes recorded.
CP Azare stressed that effective policing remains a shared responsibility between the Police and the public. The rescue of the kidnapped victims and the arrest of the transformer vandals demonstrate the commitment of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command to maintaining security and order in the state.
The police operations resulted in the recovery of various items, including mobile phones, 29 SIM cards, one power bank, one starter motor battery, one torchlight, and an identity card bearing a NIN number. The suspects and recovered items are currently in police custody, and further investigations are ongoing.
Key points
- The Akwa Ibom State Police Command rescued two kidnapped victims of sea piracy along the Ibeno waterways on September 30, 2026.
- The police also arrested two suspected transformer vandals and recovered various items, including transformer solenoids and electrical tools.
- The Commissioner of Police commended the officers and men involved in the operations and appreciated the cooperation of community members.
