Operatives of the Marine Department of Bayelsa State Police Command clashed with gunmen who hijacked a passenger boat along Nembe-Brass waterways.
The state police spokesman, SP Asinim Butswat, who confirmed the incident in a statement on Friday, said operatives on surveillance on the route subdued the pirates and rescued the passengers from being taken to the creeks.
Butswat said, “On 17 August 2022, at about 1730 hours, operatives of the Marine Department of the Bayelsa State Police Command, while on patrol along the Nembe- Brass waterways came under attack by sea pirates who were robbing passengers and attempting to kidnap some of them in a speed boat named Tari Marine 2.
“The operatives repelled the attack, subdued the pirates by their superior firepower and rescued the passengers.
“The pirates ran to a nearby creek and escaped with bullets wounds. They abandoned their speedboat, with one military camouflage, one bullet proof jacket and one cutlass.
“The Commissioner of Police Bayelsa State Command, CP Ben Nebolisa Okolo fdc, has ordered the State Criminal Investigation Department to carry out a discreet investigation to unravel the identity of the sea pirates.”