The Nigerian Navy has rescued a kidnap victim and made 2 arrests in connection with a kidnap incident along the Bonny River adjacent to the Andoni River.

Operatives of the Nigerian Navy are currently in hot pursuit of four more suspects allegedly involved in the incident which occurred at Agba Agwat Asarama in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.

In a chat with Kristina Reports, the victim (name withheld), who is the captain of a local tugboat towing a barge from Ikot Abasi along the Bonny River, said he was whisked away by the several kidnappers who posed as pipeline surveillance workers to a nearby village.

A source, who preferred anonymity, said the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Bonny, Rivers State acting on an intelligence report it received about an active kidnap incident responded to the crime scene and arrested one of the suspected kidnappers.

“The Navy received an intelligence report that a kidnap was ongoing and immediately responded to the incident area and followed up with locals on the intel they received. The Navy Team located the criminals in an enclave within the area where the kidnappers were believed to be hiding the captured victim.”

“However, on sighting the Navy team approaching, the kidnappers quickly fled the scene through escape routes into surrounding bushes and abandoned the Captain who was then rescued by the Navy.”

“In a further effort to comb the area, the Navy intercepted and arrested 2 fleeing kidnappers after giving a hot pursuit during their escape.”

“We were Informed that the tugboat captain has been abducted and taken into the village. We raided the place and rescued victim, and arrested 2 suspects while others escaped. Efforts are ongoing to fish out and apprehend the remaining suspects.”

On his part, the victim recounted his experience to Kristina Reports in a chat in Bonny on Thursday, November 2, 2023.

“I am the captain of the tugboat. It was hired by a company named Sterling Global. We were coming from Ikot Abasi in Akwa Ibom State along the river (Bonny River).”

“When we got to that other river (Andoni river), some village boys came out and stopped us, telling us that they are surveillance boys and that they are in charge of the area. They asked my Oga to give them N400,000.

“He begged them that we don’t have such money but they kept asking. He offered them N40,000 but they refused and now said they will take his captain and when he is ready let him send the money.”

“They now took me in their boat away; when we reached their place, they told me that they have increased the money to N1million. They called my boss and told him to bring N1million or they will hide me.

“It was in that process that I received a call and a naval man was talking to me, I now gave them the phone. After talking with the navy man, they got angry, asking me why I called the Navy.

He said it was after the call from the naval officer that the Navy raided the area and rescued and also arrested one of the suspects, thanking the Navy for their efforts at rescuing him.

It would be recalled that on resumption of office, the Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (NNFOB), Bonny, Capt. Reginald Adoki reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s posture to provide optimum security governance around the maritime environment, especially during upcoming festive season.

He stated that the posture of the Nigerian Navy was to ensure people go about their legitimate businesses especially, festivals and events during the Yuletide period without any fear.