Nineteen persons, including eight students writing the West African Senior School Certificate Examination kidnapped by suspected pirates in the Bille waterways in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, have regained their freedom after spending 21 days in captivity.
The abductees were rescued on Monday evening by a local outfit known as the ‘Royal ‘Fouchee Security Services’ popularly known as the ‘Amama Soldiers’.
The local security outfit is owned by a former leader of the Niger Delta Peoples’ Volunteer Force and currently the Amayanabo (King) of Torusaramapiri in Degema LGA, Asari-Dokubo.
PUNCH Metro recalls that the suspected pirates had hijacked two passenger boats travelling to Bille in Degema on May 6, 2025, and abducted all the occupants including the WASSCE students leading to a public outcry and calls for their release.
PUNCH Metro had also reported that the abductors later contacted some of their victim’s families and demanded a ransom of N100m before allowing them to breathe the air of freedom.
Speaking to newsmen on how they were rescued, Asari-Dokubo whose title is Dabamaye-Amiaikiri commended his men for the swift rescue operation which he said began on Sunday in the creek.
The former freedom fighter said he intervened following an appeal by the Directorate of State Security, pointing out that one of the victims who had paid a whopping ransom of N10m for his freedom assisted in the rescue effort.
Asari-Dokubo described the action of the pirates as man’s inhumanity to man, especially as the abductees were starved and subjected to harrowing experiences.
He stated, “These victims have been there (captivity) for 21 days. This is the height of man’s inhumanity to man. You steal your fellow men and dignify it by calling it kidnapping. Steal your fellow human being and keep him somewhere, starve him, and ask for money.
“One of our brothers was among the kidnapped people and he paid N10m. He was the one who assisted us to the camp.”
The monarch expressed worry over the whereabouts of a military officer who was also in the boat when the pirates struck, fearing that he might have been killed.
“The military man who was kidnapped along with them has not been accounted for. This is the uniform of the military man, maybe they have killed him. This is his ID card. His name is Salihu Ibrahim.
“Anybody who knows anything about the military man, a Lance Corporal, should relay it to us. He was supposed to be among the people kidnapped. He was supposed to be the 20th person. Nineteen of them (abductees) have been freed but he cannot be found. His uniform is here.”
He said the soldier was going to Bille when they kidnapped him, lamented the monarch in an emotion-laden voice, even as he vowed to end kidnapping and sea piracy along the Kalabari waterways..
One of the suspects identified as Victor Friday while speaking to newsmen said he was working for a five-man gang who masterminded the abduction led by an indigene of Bayelsa State named ‘Kentebe’, who is now on the run.
While narrating how the gang carried out their operation, he said (in pidgin English) that he never took part in the wicked act because he only works in the camp located in the creek.
“I no follow kidnap anybody. The only thing be say them dey send me message. When them come back, them go tell me carry this thing, carry this food, go so so place. I no dey follow go thief (kidnap).
“If they send me, and I no go, they will beat me. But then, they show everybody love (the gang shows appreciation for their efforts). But me, I no dey go follow them thief (kidnap),” he said while claiming innocence.
The victim who had earlier regained his freedom and a boat driver identified as Victor Akinloye spoke on how he was abducted, saying their captors held other victims hostage in the creek.
Akinloye further said he and the others held hostage were beaten, stripped and disposed of their mobile phones and subjected to inhuman conditions in the cold.
“After carrying us from the creek, getting to a spot, we came down and started pushing the boat. We got to a point and discovered that some other Bille people were inside the boat. They kept all of us inside the boat. We were thoroughly beaten and stripped naked. They collected our phones, ATM cards, and withdrew our money. When I came out, I ran to our King, Alhaji Mujahi Asari-Dokubo and told him I knew the place.
“He said he was told such a thing happened. So, after three to four days, he sent for me and I promised him that I knew the environment (exact creek location), though I don’t drive that place (route) but as a sea-going man, I can locate the place.
“So we had to leave and by the grace of God, we went there (camp) successfully and we captured (rescued) them”.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Orange-Koko, confirmed the release.
She said, “Yes, I can confirm their release. They were rescued on Monday evening through a collaborative effort by the local service group and the police and investigation is ongoing.”
