Nigerian Navy has arrested seven suspected pirates who attempted to abduct some occupants of a fishing trawler in Bonny Local Government, Rivers State.
Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder, Commodore Oyetunji Fadeyi, said in Port Harcourt on Thursday that the hoodlums were apprehended on Tuesday.
Parading the suspects, Fadeyi said the armed men attacked the fishing trawler belonging to ORC Fisheries near Bonny Forward Base.
He said the pirates destroyed the ship’s communication equipment and held the captain hostage.
The NNS Pathfinder Commander said, “The seven pirates who came in a 95 Horse Power engine speedboat and armed with one AK-47 and one FN rifles reportedly accosted the fishing trawler while trying to forcibly embark the vessel.
“They damaged the ship’s communication equipment and held the captain hostage. But he managed to send a distress call before the pirates came close to the fishing trawler.”
Fadeyi said his men responded to the call, adding that the pirates left the fishing trawler and jumped into their boat and sped off.
He said, “The NNS Pathfinder patrol boat chased them, closed in 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 said the suspects confessed to have been involved in illegal bunkering, a number of piracy attacks and kidnap of ship crews for ransom.
He restated the command’s determination to fight such criminal activities in Niger Delta in line with the mandate of the Chief of Naval Staff.
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