19 Abducted by Pirates Rescued in Rivers State

Nineteen passengers kidnapped by sea pirates three weeks ago along the Isaka River en route to Bille have been rescued by the Royal Fouche Security Services Ltd., popularly known as the Amama Soldiers.

The victims were held in captivity at an undisclosed location where their abductors demanded a ₦100 million ransom. Their rescue was initiated after a previously released victim, who paid ₦10 million for his freedom, alerted Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, who promptly mobilized his private security outfit.

The rescue operation, led by Royal Fouche Security Services, resulted in the safe recovery of 19 of the 20 kidnapped passengers. One victim, Corporal Salisu Ibrahim of the Nigerian Army, remains missing after being separated from the group by the captors.

Speaking before handing over the victims to operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), Asari condemned the abductions as “barbaric and inhumane.” He vowed that those responsible would be tracked and brought to justice. “Rivers State will no longer serve as a haven for sea pirates. We are committed to securing our waterways just as we did along the Emohua/Kalabari road,” He said.

Asari called for public cooperation in providing information that could help prevent future attacks and reaffirmed the alliance between his security outfit and federal agencies.

One of the rescued victims, a boat driver from Bille, described the ordeal as terrifying. “We were held for 21 days by armed men from Bayelsa. They warned us that Bonny people who paid ransom would be freed first. We thought we were forgotten until the Amama Soldiers stormed the camp,” he said, thanking Amama soldiers for the timely inyervention.

The rescued individuals have been handed over to security authorities for documentation and medical evaluation and are expected to reunite with their families shortly.