Eight students preparing for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) have been rescued after being held for 21 days along with eleven other passengers in Rivers State. The nineteen people were abducted on May 6 by suspected pirates while travelling by boat to Bille through the Degema waterways.
The rescue operation, which brought an end to the victims’ 21-day ordeal, was carried out on Monday evening by a local security organization known as Royal Fouchee Security Services, popularly referred to as the Amama Soldiers. This group is headed by Alhaji Asari Dokubo, a former Niger Delta militant leader who now serves as the traditional ruler of the Torusaramapiri community in Degema Local Government Area.
According to Asari Dokubo, the intervention came following a request for assistance from the Department of State Services (DSS). He said that the effort to locate and rescue the hostages began in earnest on Sunday. A significant breakthrough occurred when one of the victims who had earlier been freed after paying a ransom of N10 million volunteered crucial intelligence that led the team to the kidnappers’ hideout.
“These people were kept under inhumane conditions. They were starved, mistreated, and isolated for 21 days,” Dokubo said. “The man who had earlier paid N10 million and was released came back and worked with us. That courageous move made all the difference.”
The victims were originally abducted when gunmen, believed to be pirates, ambushed two passenger boats heading to Bille. Everyone on board, including the WASSCE candidates, was taken captive. The kidnappers later contacted the victims’ families, demanding N100 million as ransom.
One of the rescued victims, Victor Akinloye, who was driving one of the boats at the time of the abduction, recounted their ordeal. He said the captives were stripped naked and beaten regularly. The kidnappers also seized their phones and ATM cards and withdrew funds from their bank accounts.
Akinloye added that he had observed key details of the area where they were held. After his release, he played a pivotal role in guiding the rescue team to the location in the dense creek territory of Degema.
Asari Dokubo also expressed serious concerns regarding the fate of Lance Corporal Salihu Ibrahim, a military personnel who was among the passengers during the attack. Only his uniform and identity card were recovered at the kidnappers’ hideout, leading to fears that he may have been killed.
During the operation, one suspect identified as Victor Friday was apprehended. He denied direct involvement in the kidnapping, insisting that his role was limited to performing errands around the camp. He also mentioned that the group’s ringleader, identified only as Kentebe and said to be from Bayelsa State, is currently on the run.
The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the rescue. Police spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, acknowledged that the operation was a collaborative effort between the police and the local security outfit. “Yes, I can confirm they were rescued on Monday evening through a joint effort,” she stated.
