Akwa Ibom State Police Command has apprehended two men, Emmanuel Okpet and Joshua Ezekiel for their alleged involvement in sea piracy in Ibaka waterways, Mbo local government area of the state.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Odiko Macdon who said this on Tuesday explained that four firearms, four stolen engine boats were recovered from them.
The PPRO noted that the operatives of Mbo Division, following a robbery complaint on Saturday, November 6, 2021 swung into action and arrested Ability Okpet also known as Blacky and subsequently arrested Joshua Ezekiel known as Gogo.
He said while efforts are ongoing to arrest other fleeing gang members, the arrested ones would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
The statement in parts, “Piqued by complaints about sea pirates in some parts of Akwa Ibom State waterways, the Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State, CP Andrew Amiengheme, fdc, psc(+) commenced special tactical deployments to make the waterways safer. These deployments are beginning to yield positive results.
“Relying on a robbery complaint on 6/11/2021 at about 11:45am, Operatives of Mbo Division, led by the DPO, SP John Abua, arrested one Ability Emmanuel Okpet a.k.a “Blacky” ‘m’ at Ibaka in Mbo L.G.A. His confessions caused the DPO to lead a joint team of Police Operatives and the Nigerian Navy, Forward Operation Base, Ibaka to arrest one Joshua Ezekiel a.k.a “Gogo” m’ of Andoni L.G.A, Rivers State, but residing at Esuk Ewang in Mbo L.G.A.
“The suspects conspired with other members of their gang, now at large, in separate robbery operations on the 3/11/2021 at about 9:00pm, along the Point three High Sea, robbed four (4) fishermen of their fishes, 15 horsepower outboard engine, valued at seven hundred and seventy-five thousand naira (N775,000.00), two G.S.M phones valued at forty-five thousand naira (N45,000.00).
During interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime and led the Operatives to where one (1) locally made pistol, one (1) locally made double-barrel shotgun and two (2) locally made long barrel guns used for the operations were hidden in a shallow pit. Other exhibits recovered include, three (3) stolen 9.9HP Suzuki Outboard Engines, one (1) 40HP Yamaha Outboard Engine, one (1) itel phone and two (2) bottles of concoction.”