A routine patrol turned into a daring counteroffensive on the high seas last Saturday when operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Marine Police intercepted a violent pirate assault along the Oron-Calabar waterways.
Police Public Relations Officer of the Command,
DSP Timfon John in a statement on Monday indicated that at exactly 12:06 PM on May 10, 2025, officers on a search-and-rescue mission received an urgent distress call: sea pirates—seven in number, heavily armed and speeding through the waves—were attacking innocent travelers.
Explaining further, the statement said the Officer-in-Charge of the Marine Police didn’t hesitate to respond as he led a swift tactical deployment to the scene, knowing that every second counted.
“But as the police patrol boats approached, they came under heavy fire. The pirates, clearly startled by the rapid response, opened fire in a desperate bid to escape.
“Undeterred, the Marine Police returned fire with precision, forcing the assailants—some reportedly injured—to flee into a narrow, marshy creek too shallow for police boats to navigate.
“Refusing to back down, the operatives pressed forward. In a bold follow-up operation, the Marine Police raided the pirates’ hideout, uncovering a stash of weapons, marine equipment, and suspicious items suggesting deeper criminal activity.”
Items recovered from the operation according to the statement, included, a W23 speedboat equipped with a powerful 200HP Yamaha engine and gearbox, a 15HP Yamaha engine, Dismantled engine components, a locally-made Dane gun, an improvised toolbox, an Emage petrol generator, an OX standing fan, a container filled with materials suspected to be charms and White candle and other ritual items’
Other items recovered included, a wallet containing a WAEC ID card with the name Patrick Edet Effiong, Two passport-sized photographs, a brown handbag filled with various tablets, two live rounds and two empty shells of K2 ammunition, wristwatch, black marker, perfume, needle and black thread, and body cream
The discovery of charms, weapons, and ammunition alongside personal effects and ID is a pointer to a criminal network possibly involved in ritual practices, arms trafficking, and organized piracy, the statement indicated
According to the statement, efforts are currently being intensified to track down and apprehend the fleeing suspects, some of whom may be nursing gunshot wounds sustained during the firefight.
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command reassures residents, particularly those along the coastline, of its unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property. This operation underscores the readiness and courage of the Marine Police to respond swiftly and decisively to criminal threats in our waters.
CP Baba Mohammed Azare
