The Bayelsa State Police Command, on Thursday, said that its marine operatives had foiled an attempt by some gunmen believed to be pirates to attack a commercial speedboat and kidnap four passengers on board who were travelling along the Nembe-Brass waterways of the state.

According to the command, the policemen who were patrolling the waterways rescued the four passengers after scuttling their abduction by the sea robbers on Wednesday.

A statement issued by the spokesman for the command, Asinim Butswat, said the patrol team had come under attack by the hoodlums, who were trying to rob and abduct their victims.

Butswat said the marine officers gallantly repelled and subdued the criminals, although they escaped into the creeks with bullet wounds.

He said that a military camouflage, a bulletproof vest, a cutlass and a speedboat were recovered from the hoodlums.

He said, “On 17 August 2022 at about 1730 hours, Operatives of the Marine Department of the Bayelsa State Police Command, while on patrol along the Nembe- Brass waterways came under attacked by sea pirates who were robbing passengers and attempting to kidnap some of them in a speed boat named Tari Marine 2.

“The operatives repelled the attack, subdued the pirates by their superior firepower and rescued the passengers. The pirates ran to a nearby creek and escaped with bullets wounds. They abandoned their speed boat, with one military camouflage, one bulletproof jacket and one cutlass,” he added.

Butswat added that the Commissioner of Police, Ben Okolo, had ordered the State Criminal Investigation Department to carry out a discreet investigation to unravel the identities of the pirates. (Courtesy, excluding headline, Daily Independent)

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