Nigerian Navy arrests 7 sea pirates in Rivers, foils kidnap (PHOTO)

The Nigeria Navy said yesterday that it has arrested seven suspected sea pirates who attacked a fishing trawler, in an attempt to kidnap its occupants on the high sea of Bonny in Rivers State.

The security outfit said the suspects were arrested on the morning of November 13, following a distress call put across to it by the captain of the fishing truck (MV ORC 5), who sighted them from a distance.

The Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, Rumuolumeni, Commodore Oyetunji Fadeyi, who stated this while parading the suspects before newsmen at the Command’s base in Rumuolumeni, Rivers State on Thursday, said the pirates were armed.

Fadeyi said; “On 13th November, MV ORC 5, a fishing trawler owned by ORC Fisheries Limited, Lagos was attacked by sea pirates at a position 3nm SE Bonny Forward Base.

“The pirates numbering seven who came in a 95 Horse Power engine speed boat and armed with one AK-47 and one FN rifles reportedly accosted the fishing trawler while trying to forcefully embark the vessel.

“They damaged the ship’s communication equipment and held the captain hostage. But the captain managed to send a distress call before the pirates embarked the fishing trawler,” the Commodore said.

He explained that the NNS Pathfinder patrol boat responded to the distress call about 8:15am same day (Tuesday), but that on getting close to the scene, the pirates sighted the Naval boat and reportedly disembarked the fishing trawler into their boat and sped off.

The Naval Chief said; “NNS Pathfinder patrol boat chased them, closed up on them, opened fire and subdued them. The pirates threw their rifles overboard to evade arrest and disguise as fishermen, but were arrested and brought to the NNS pathfinder for investigation.”

Fadeyi further said that upon interrogation, the suspects confessed to have been involved in a number of piracy attacks and kidnap of ship crews for ransom and illegal bunkering activities.

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