The Rivers State Command of the Nigeria Police has rescued 8 passengers who were abducted in two separate attacks on 6th and 7th September 2021 along the Bodo/ Bonny waterways by sea pirates and taken to captivity.
The victims were made of 5 men and 3 women namely: Ossai Christian, Grace Jumbo, Rita Allison, Johnson Osel, Gladys Long John, Maimuna Abiba, Obianuga Angus and Adekola Opayemi.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer PPRO, Nnamdi Omoni, the victims were rescued Thursday night at Bolo creek in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of the state.
The PPRO said their rescue was made possible due to the intense pressure mounted on the kidnappers by the Operatives of Anti Cultism Unit who had earlier arrested one Baridula Gboro 35 years old from Bodo in Gokana LGA.
He said the suspect had opened up and made useful confessions, including revealing the identities of his cohorts and the place where the victims were kept, following which they were forced to abandon the victims.
He said the Commissioner of Police, CP Eboka Friday has increased the presence of the Police on the Bodo/Bonny waterways with a view to stemming the tide of attacks on the waterways and ensuring the safety of passengers.
He advised passengers and those using the waterways to avoid late-night journeys that will expose them to danger and abide by all maritime safety protocols calling on the Marine Transport Operators to subject their members for profiling as the kidnap incidents were masterminded by a boat operator.
According to Omoni, the frail looking victims were released for medical attention, as efforts have been intensified to ensure the arrest of other fleeing members of the gang.
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