Marine Police operatives conducting search and rescue operations, have injured seven sea pirates in a gun battle along the Oron/Calabar waterways.
A police spokesperson Timfon John, gave details about the development.
She said, “Operatives received information about an ongoing sea pirate attack. The report indicated that approximately seven pirates in a speedboat were attacking individuals in the area.”
“Upon receiving the distress call, the officer-in-charge of the marine police swiftly mobilised and led operatives to the scene. On sighting the marine police patrol boats, the hoodlums opened fire sporadically. The police operatives returned fire, forcing the pirates, who sustained bullet wounds, to escape into a shallow creek inaccessible to the Police boats.”
“Subsequently, the police invaded the pirates’ camp, which was successfully raided,” she recalled, disclosing that several items, including a One W23 speedboat fitted with a single 200 hp Yamaha engine gearbox, one 15 hp Yamaha engine, dismantled engine parts, one Dane gun, and one improvised toolbox, were found.
“Others included one Emage petrol generator, one OX standing fan, a rubber container with materials suspected to be charms, one white candle, one black wallet containing one WAEC ID card with the name ‘Patrick Edet Effiong’, two recent passport photographs, and one brown handbag containing some tablets.”
She said two rounds of K2 live ammunition, two empty shells of K2 ammunition, one wristwatch, one marker, one perfume, one black thread and needle and one body cream, were also found.
