Aniefiok Christopher
Calabar–Oron Waterways is under siege as Akwa Ibom Police race to free over 15 passengers abducted by sea pirates along the Nigeria’s coastal corridor on Thursday, April 16.
Unconfirmed report has it that most of the passengers were candidates of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) who were heading to Calabar for the examination on Saturday.
But, in a decisive move, the Akwa Ibom State Police Command has begun operations to free the victims and arrest perpetrators of the act.
A statement by spokesperson of Akwa Ibom Police Command, DSP Timfon, John said ‘‘In close synergy with the Cross River State Police Command and the Nigerian Navy, the Command has deployed a formidable combination of marine, tactical, and intelligence assets to dominate the waterways and adjoining creeks, with a view to tracking down the criminals and securing the safe release of the victims.
‘‘Acting on the directive of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 6, AIG Auwal Musa Mohammed, the Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, CP Baba Mohammed Azare fsi, has ordered sustained, intelligence-driven operations, including coordinated patrols, surveillance, and targeted raids across identified criminal hideouts within the maritime corridor.’’
Recall that the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 6, Mohammed, had directed the Commissioners of Police in Cross River State, Rashid B. Afegbua, and Akwa Ibom State, Baba Mohammed Azare, to launch a coordinated, intelligence-driven manhunt to rescue the victims and dismantle the criminal network behind the attack on the passengers’ ferry.
The Commissioner of Police reaffirmed the Command’s unwavering commitment to ensuring the safe rescue of all abducted persons and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
He warned that the Command, in collaboration with sister security agencies, will leave no stone unturned in flushing out criminal elements from the waterways.
Members of the public, especially residents of riverine communities, are urged to remain calm, vigilant, and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible and timely information that could aid ongoing operations.
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command assures the good people of the State that every necessary measure is being taken to restore safety and public confidence along the waterways, stressing that there will be no hiding place for criminals.
