Operatives of the Marine Police, while conducting search and rescue operations along the Oron/Calabar waterways, received information about an ongoing sea pirate attack.
The report indicated that approximately seven (7) pirates in a speedboat were attacking individuals in the area.
Police Repeals Sea Pirate Attack, Recover Boat Items
Upon receiving the distress call, the Officer-in-Charge of the Marine Police swiftly mobilized and led operatives to the scene. On sighting the Marine Police patrol boats, the hoodlums opened fire sporadically.
The police operatives returned fire, forcing the pirates, who sustained bullet wounds, to escape into a shallow creek inaccessible to the police boats.
Subsequently, the police invaded the pirates’ camp, which was successfully raided. During the raid, the following items were recovered:
* One W23 speedboat fitted with a single 200HP Yamaha engine gearbox
* One 15HP Yamaha engine
* Dismantled engine parts
* One Dane gun
* One improvised toolbox
* One Emage petrol generator
* One OX standing fan
* A rubber container with materials suspected to be charms
* One white candle
* One black wallet containing one WAEC ID card with the name ‘Patrick Edet Effiong’
* Two recent passport photographs
* One brown handbag containing some tablets
* Two rounds of K2 live ammunition
* Two empty shells of K2 ammunition
* One wristwatch
* One marker
* One perfume
* One black thread and needle
* One body cream
Efforts are being intensified to apprehend the fleeing suspects.