The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has rescued a group of fishermen abducted by suspected sea pirates along the waterways of Ibeno Local Government Area and arrested two suspected transformer vandals in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare.
According to the statement, the fishermen, including a Ghanaian national, were attacked and abducted by suspected sea pirates at about 7:00 a.m. on September 30, 2026, while travelling towards the Atlantic Ocean.
Personnel of the Asawana Mobile Police Base were mobilised following the report and later encountered the suspected pirates around the ocean boundary between Akwa Ibom and Rivers states, leading to an exchange of gunfire.
The suspects reportedly abandoned their boat and escaped into a nearby creek, while the police rescued the victims unharmed.
The operation also led to the recovery of several outboard engines and other items, including one 200HP engine, one 40HP engine with a W23 flying boat, five 40HP engines, three 9.9HP engines, five containers of mixed PMS, four empty containers, three gas cylinders, mobile phones and 29 SIM cards.
Other recovered items included a power bank, starter motor battery, torchlight and an identity card bearing a NIN number, among other items.
In a separate operation, police arrested two men suspected of vandalising a community transformer in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area and recovering components allegedly stolen from the facility.
The command said it received information at about 3:11 a.m. on October 1 that the suspects had vandalised the transformer and conveyed the stolen components in a tricycle before transferring them into a red minibus.
Police operatives intercepted the suspected vehicle along the Etinan route, but the occupants allegedly opened fire during a pursuit before abandoning the vehicle and fleeing into a nearby bush.
A coordinated search involving members of the community subsequently led to the arrest of Chinedu Onwe, 31, from Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, and Enobong Jonah, 35, from Otoro Abak Village, Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
Recovered items included three large transformer solenoids, one live cartridge, assorted electrical tools, a large steel cutter, a Tecno mobile phone, a tricycle allegedly used to convey the transformer components and a red minibus with registration number ABIA 986 SSM.
The Commissioner of Police commended the officers involved in both operations, describing their response as evidence of vigilance and commitment to tackling criminal activities across the state.
Azare also appreciated residents of the affected communities for providing information and assisting the police, stressing that effective policing required cooperation between security agencies and the public.
He warned those involved in critical infrastructure vandalism, sea piracy, abduction and other violent crimes that the command would continue to pursue them and bring them before the law.
The commissioner, however, reiterated that all suspects remain presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
