Nineteen people have been rescued after being abducted by suspected pirates in Rivers state, including eight students who were taking the West African Senior School Certificate Examination(WAEC)
The victims were detained for 21 days in the Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, specifically in the Bille Waterways area.
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A local security organisation named the Royal Fouchee Security Services, commonly known as the Amama Soldiers, released them on Monday night.
Asari-Dokubo, a former militant leader in Rivers state and current traditional chief of the Torusaramapiri village in Degema, is in charge of the group.
The victims were kidnapped on May 6, when pirates attacked two boats heading to Bille community, also in Rivers state. According to reports, everyone in the boat was taken hostage, including the students. After the incident, there were widespread requests for their release.
The kidnappers later contacted families and demanded N100 million in ransom.
Speaking about the rescue, Asari-Dokubo said that the Department of State Services contacted him and his team to assist, and they started the operation on Sunday. He added that one of the victims had previously given the kidnappers N10 million but had subsequently assisted them in finding the hiding place.
“These people were kept in terrible conditions for 21 days. They were starved and badly treated. One of them, who was released after paying N10 million, helped us find the kidnappers’ camp,” he said.
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Concerns were also voiced by Asari-Dokubo regarding Lance Corporal Salihu Ibrahim, a soldier who was in one of the boats but has since gone missing. He thinks the soldier might have been slain because only his uniform and ID card were discovered.
Victor Friday, one of the detained suspects, stated he was not involved in the kidnapping. He claimed that he was accustomed to running errands and that he only stayed in the camp.
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