The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), in partnership with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has rescued a Methodist faithful, Bassey Anwana and 13 victims abducted by sea pirates along the Calabar-Oron waterways.
DECENCY GLOBAL NEWS had reported on April 19 that the passengers were abducted in the evening of April 17 with members of Methodist Church Nigeria in the Conference Area and especially Calabar Archdiocese declaring days of prayer and fasting for their rescue.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Okon Placid, in a statement issued on Tuesday, the victims were rescued following sustained, intelligence-driven operations, robust inter-agency collaboration, and coordinated tactical efforts targeting criminal elements operating within the maritime corridor.
“Acting on credible intelligence, joint operatives intensified surveillance and conducted targeted operations across identified flashpoints, leading to the safe rescue of all victims without harm.
“The rescued victims are currently undergoing medical evaluation and necessary debriefing, after which they will be reunited with their families,” Placid stated.
Commenting on the development, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, commended the joint security team for the successful rescue, describing it as a testament to effective inter-agency collaboration and intelligence-led operations.
IGP Disu assured the public that efforts are ongoing to track down and apprehend all perpetrators involved in the abduction and bring them to justice.
In an interview with DECENCY GLOBAL NEWS, the National Assistant Secretary of Methodist Men’s Fellowship, Elder Francis Anwana, the elder brother of Bassey Anwana,one of the victims was full of gratitude to God of John Wesley for the safe return of his younger brother and the other victims. He appreciated Methodist faithful nationwide and the Methodist Archdiocese of Calabar who organized chain prayer and fasting for their rescue.
Francis Anwana, an Insurance expert was full of commendations for the coordination among the nation’s security operatives which resulted in the rescue of the victims from Kidnappers’ Den.
He specifically commended the officials of the EFCC and Nigeria Police Force for top notch intelligence gathering during the ugly incident.
