An alleged pirate kingpin, Austine Ezekiel Agba, who has been terrorising the fishing community of Ibeno in Akwa Ibom State, has been arrested. Agba, lured from Bayelsa State to receive a proposed ransom of N3 million, when he was attacked.
The pirate kingpin, who arrived in Akwa Ibom on Tuesday, June 28, lodged at Olympus Hotel, Afaha Uqua Road, Eket, in anticipation of receiving a lucrative amount of money as ransom for a kidnapped fisherman, was arrested the following day by the Chairman of Ibeno Community Security Officer (CSO) attached to the Nigerian Navy Patrol Team, Ukwekpo Job.
According to Job, the trail to capture the pirate kingpin was borne out of persistent cry by fishermen in the community, who were always faced with the atrocities meted on them by sea pirates. Job further said that the pirate kingpin ‘is one of the most notorious and influential leaders’ of one the pirate organisations that roamed the seas hijacking fishing boats, engine, fishermen and their families for ransom.
The arrest of the pirate kingpin has also led to the discovery of two alleged accomplices known as Simeon Ebong and Samuel Ikotinye, who are current detained at the antikidnapping unit of the Akwa Ibom Police Command, alongside Ezekiel.
Not satisfied with the situation, the people of Ibeno expressed fear that the alleged pirate might be set free, considering the ‘rumoured exchange of money’ between men of the Nigerian Police in-charge of the case and some supposed sponsors of the pirate.
