The Navy also rescued a victim who is the captain of a tug boat whom the suspect abducted of the coast of the Andoni-Bonny River.
The captain was said to be towing a barge from Ikot Abasi along the Bonny River when the miscreants who were in speed boat intercepted him mid sea.
Speaking to newsmen in Port Harcourt, the rescued captain who said he does not want his name mentioned said he was whisked away to a nearby village by the kidnappers who posed as pipeline surveillance workers.
But a source said the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base in Bonny, Rivers State acting on an intelligence report about the incident quickly moved in after establishing the location of the crime scene and arrested one of the suspected kidnappers.
The Navy source who pleaded anonymity said, “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 into surrounding bushes and abandoned the paptain who was then rescued. ”
Continuing, he said, “In a further effort to comb the area, the Navy intercepted and arrested two fleeing kidnappers after a hot chace.
“We were Informed that the tugboat captain has been abducted and taken into the village.
“We raided the place and rescued victim, and arrested two suspects while others escaped. Efforts are ongoing to fish out and apprehend the remaining suspects.”
Narrating his ordeal, the captain said, “I am the captain of the tugboat. It was hired by a private company..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 boss 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.
“So 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 explained
He said it was after the call from the naval officer that the Navy raided the area, arrested one of the suspect.
On resumption of office, the Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base Bonny, Capt. Reginald Adoki, reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to provide optimum security around the maritime environment, especially during coming festive season.
