In a dramatic turn of events, eight students sitting for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and 11 others abducted by suspected riverine pirates in Rivers State have been rescued after enduring 21 grueling days in captivity.
The victims, seized on May 6, 2025, were passengers aboard two boats traveling to Bille in Degema Local Government Area when they were ambushed by gunmen in the treacherous waterways. The attackers, armed and ruthless, commandeered the vessels and whisked their captives deep into the heart of the Bille creeks — an area notorious for lawlessness and piracy.
Held in inhumane conditions, the abductees suffered starvation, physical abuse, and humiliation at the hands of their captors. “They beat us, stripped us naked, took our phones, ATM cards, and withdrew money from our accounts,” recounted Victor Akinloye, a boat driver among those rescued. “It was a nightmare.”
The abductors reportedly demanded a ransom of N100 million, plunging the families of the victims into anxiety and despair. One victim, desperate for freedom, reportedly paid N10 million — a move that would later aid security operatives in locating the hideout.
The breakthrough came on Monday evening when a coordinated rescue operation, spearheaded by the local security outfit Royal Fouchee Security Services—popularly known as the Amama Soldiers—swooped into the dense creek under the command of ex-Niger Delta warlord-turned-vigilante leader, Alhaji Mujahid Asari Dokubo. The operation was reportedly initiated at the request of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Speaking to journalists, Dokubo revealed that the operation began on Sunday after the previously released victim provided crucial intelligence. “These people were held in appalling conditions. It was a heartbreaking sight,” said Dokubo, who now serves as the traditional ruler of the Torusaramapiri community in Degema.
During the daring rescue, one suspect, Victor Friday, was apprehended. While he denied direct involvement in the kidnapping, he admitted living at the camp and running errands for the gang. He also named the alleged ringleader—Kentebe, believed to be from Bayelsa State—who remains at large.
Amid the successful operation, concern lingers over the fate of Lance Corporal Salihu Ibrahim, a Nigerian soldier reportedly aboard one of the hijacked boats. His uniform and ID card were recovered from the scene, but the man himself remains missing, raising fears of a possible fatality.
Confirming the incident, spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said: “I can confirm that the victims were rescued on Monday evening through a collaborative effort between the police and the local security outfit.”
The incident once again casts a spotlight on the escalating insecurity in Nigeria’s riverine communities, where pirates and armed gangs continue to exploit the remoteness of the creeks to terrorize innocent citizens and disrupt transportation routes.
As the rescued victims begin their journey to healing, the call for robust security presence and sustained crackdown on waterway crimes in the Niger Delta grows louder.
PIONEER NEWS 