Eight students sitting for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and 11 others kidnapped by sea pirates have been rescued after spending 21 days in captivity.
The victims were abducted on May 6 while travelling on two passenger boats to Bille in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State. The kidnappers demanded N100 million ransom from their families.
They were freed on Monday evening by local security operatives from the Royal Fouchee Security Services, also known as the *Amama Soldiers*. The group is led by Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, a former Niger Delta militant leader and the current Amayanabo (King) of Torusaramapiri in Degema.
According to Asari-Dokubo, the rescue operation started on Sunday after the Department of State Services (DSS) reached out to him. One of the victims, who had earlier paid N10 million for his release, helped guide the team to the kidnappers’ camp.
“These victims have been there for 21 days. This is the height of man’s inhumanity to man. They were starved, beaten, and held under harsh conditions,” Asari-Dokubo said.
He also raised concerns over a missing military officer, Lance Corporal Salihu Ibrahim, who was among those kidnapped. While 19 people were rescued, the soldier has not been found. Only his uniform and ID card were recovered.
Meanwhile, one of the suspects, Victor Friday, confessed to working in the kidnappers’ camp but denied direct involvement in the abductions. He said the gang was led by a man known as Kentebe, an indigene of Bayelsa State who is currently on the run.
One of the victims, Victor Akinloye, recounted how they were beaten, stripped, and robbed of their phones and ATM cards. He later identified the location of the camp to Asari-Dokubo, which helped in the successful rescue mission.
The Rivers State government and security agencies are yet to issue official statements, but Asari-Dokubo vowed to continue the fight against piracy and kidnapping along the Kalabari waterways.
