Akwa Ibom State Police Commissioner Olataye Duresinmi has said that the command will soon clamp down on sea pirates along coastal ways through massive mobilization of Marine police personnel in affected areas.
Addressing newsmen in his office after parading over 29 suspects for various offences, CP Duresinmi said the command was aware of the activities of sea pirates who have terrorized riverine areas in the last three months.
He listed atrocities of sea pirates against residents of coastal areas in the state to include collection of levies from fishermen, kidnapping, seizure of boats from fishermen and killing of innocent passengers travelling on waterways in the state.
“Having known all these atrocities, we will soon begin aggressive manhunt on the sea pirates who are determined to make our waterways unsafe for both passengers and fishermen.
He mentioned affected coastal routes to include: Efiat-Mbo, Oron-Calabar, Ibeno-Eastern Obolo, Inen Ekeffe-Ogoni-Bonny Island in Rivers State as well as other adjoining creeks in the state which had become conquered territories for sea pirates.
CP Duresinmi explained that the command has received reports of nefarious activities of sea pirates and different attacks on fishermen which have resulted in scarcity of fish in the market.
He said other reports have been received of how sea pirates, armed robbers and kidnappers used waterways from Ekeffe waterfront to penetrate the state, commit havoc and escaped to neighbouring Rivers State.
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“Very soon such criminals will be arrested and brought to book. Marine police will be deployed to those areas to patrol just to keep the pirates at bay.”
The CP disclosed that the Akwa Ibom state government has already shown support and commitment to fighting crimes along the waterways by providing patrol boats for the command.
“Let me appreciate Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel for providing boats for police to patrol the state waterways.
“We have received the first batch of the boats from government. we will soon deploy Marine police patrol team to all waterways in the state.
“Patrolling the waterways will certainly check upsurge of crime and criminalities along the waterways. All the complaints of fishermen and passengers travelling by water have come to us and we will act immediately” he said
He appreciated Governor Udom Emmanuel for handling security matters with diligence by providing all the necessary support for the police to work.
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