Akwa Ibom: Police intensify efforts after suspected Sea Pirates attack Marine Patrol
By Princess Don, Uyo.
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has launched a full-scale response following a violent attack on its Marine Police Patrol Team by suspected sea pirates along the Oron-Calabar waterways on January 11, 2025, around 1:00 PM.
This was disclosed by the newly appointed Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare, during his maiden press briefing in Uyo on Monday.
Aware explained that during a routine patrol, the team came under heavy fire from a group of armed pirates, who were dressed in military camouflage and operating in three speedboats. Despite being outnumbered, the police officers fought back courageously, but the attack resulted in casualties.
Two officers, Inspector Sunday Usuyak and Inspector Edet Enenyi, sustained gunshot wounds and are receiving medical treatment. Sadly, Inspector Udi Emenyi is still missing after the assault.
The Police commissioner announced that the Akwa Ibom State Police has mobilized a specialized search and rescue team to locate the missing officer. The Nigerian Navy and other security agencies have been informed and are supporting the operation.
“The Akwa Ibom Police Command will spare no effort in apprehending those responsible for this brutal attack. Our waterways will not be a sanctuary for criminals,” a statement from the Command declared.
CP Azare who visited the attack site, assured the public that security in the affected areas would be strengthened, with increased patrols and surveillance. The Command remains dedicated to safeguarding the people and maintaining law and order across the state.
The police have urged the public to provide any information that could assist in the ongoing operation. Updates will follow as the situation develops.
The CP also announced that the Command has successfully recovered four fire service trucks stolen and illicitly leased out to multinational companies in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, in a scheme dating back to 2021.
He disclosed that the trucks had been leased at a rate of ₦140,000 per day per truck, with ₦80,000 allocated to the link company and ₦60,000 shared among complicit officials of the fire service.
The arrangement, which was supposed to terminate in 2024, continued illegally until police intervention. The suspects behind the scheme have been arrested and are set to face prosecution.
“The trucks will be handed over to the state government to resume serving the good people of Akwa Ibom while investigations continue to apprehend others still at large,” the Commissioner stated.
Following a recent complaint by Governor Umo Eno over the vandalization of public infrastructure, the police command said it has also arrested two suspects, Prosper Brownson Jim, and Uduak Sunday Benso,n, for vandalizing a transformer at Sure Foundation Polytechnic in Ukanafun LGA.
Stolen items worth over ₦4 million, including transformer oil and armored cables, were recovered alongside charms believed to have been used during the operation.
“Transformer Oil valued at about N800, 000.00 (eight hundred thousand naira) was drained, and armored cables valued at about N3.5m (Three million five hundred thousand naira) were stolen. The command recovered a transformer, armored cable, and Items suspected to be juju from the suspects. The case will soon be charged to court”. The CP said
CP Azare also reported an arrest of six suspects over repeated sexual assault of a 13-year-old boy over three years. The Commissioner described the crime as a “heinous act against humanity” and promised diligent prosecution.
The command paraded several others arrested for kidnapping, cultism, unlawful possession of firearms, fraud, and impersonation and reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of Akwa Ibom residents.
“Please help me to remind the criminals that Akwa Ibom State will no longer be their heaven. We will continue to pursue them until they toe the pathonoronour,” CP Azare assured.
