By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has rescued 28 fishermen kidnapped by a five-man robbery gang in Akwa Akpa, in Uruan Local Government Area of the state.
Police Commissioner in the state, CP Olatoye Durosinmi disclosed this to journalists at the command’s headquarters, Ikot Akpanabia, Uyo, the state capital on Friday.
CP Durosinmi said that the fishermen were rescued through intelligence, adding as soon as he got the report he drafted the marine officers who were able to rescue the victims at the creeks, where they were held hostage for over eight hours.
He explained that the pirates always posed as fishermen to carry out their nefarious act on unsuspecting fishermen
According to him, “The victims at about 18: 00hrs yesterday Thursday 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-man armed gang pretending to be fishermen bumped into them and asked them to get into the boat. Fortunately, one of the victims had the phone number of the local government chairman, and called him, 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. The detachment of the marine officers are still trailing the suspects.”
Durosinmi said that the command will treat the victims at the police clinic before thereafter reuniting them to their families.
He promised to continue to ensure that the state”s land and water remain safe for the people.
One of the victims, Iboro Asuquo, who spoke to journalists said, “the thieves collected everything from us, they collected millions of Naira from different people.”
Also, one Victoria Pius from Uruan narrated: “I go there to buy fish. They Collected about N1million from me, which was part of a loan I collected which I pay back N100,000 monthly including money some people gave me 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 many times, beat us mercilessly before collecting our things. They also carried our three boat engines. Thank God that police came this morning and rescued us.”
