The Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Olugbenga Adepoju, has linked the increase in kidnapping in waterways in the state to the reduction of illegal oil bunkering to the barest minimum.
Recall that no fewer than 16 boat passengers, including seven teenagers who were travelling to sit for the ongoing West African Examination Council (WAEC) examination, were kidnapped by suspected sea pirates on May 6, 2025 and are yet to be released by their captors.
Adepoju spoke in Bonny, headquarters of Bonny local government area of the state, while addressing a meeting of stakeholders of the LGA and service commanders in the state.
Present at the meeting were heads of the Nigeria Army 6 Division Garrison, the Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigerian Air Force and the Department of State Services (DSS)
The police commissioner, who represented the sole administrator of the state, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd) at the meeting, revealed that the police are working in synergy with other sister security agencies to ensure that kidnappings on waterways are halted.
He said, “The waterways are peculiar terrain. You need a specialist to be able to navigate on that water. So, those who are going to work around here effectively must be trained like marines and work in synergy with the Navy, which is what we are doing now.
“We notice that since the illegal bunkering reduced to the bearest minimum, they don’t have any business again, they are going into kidnapping.
“We have upped our games.I can assure you that in a few years,it will be a thing of the past.Security is everybody’s business; it is not for one man alone.
“If we send operatives to this area and they don’t know the terrain, you don’t work with them, they cannot achieve. Often, you say you need security, you are the security. Without you, there can’t be security.
You will tell them how you want your area to be policed. Give them credible information.
“You have to mention names of people committing these crimes to security agencies. If you don’t talk, the security operatives will not be able to do anything. That is why working together is very important. That is why we are here.
“The LGA administrator is there; whatever that is bordering the community, he needs to know. Most of the things you are saying here, he has a role to play.
“The king (King of Bonny) has been trying, he needs your support. It is only in that way, all of you will speak in one voice and get everything done.
“Kidnapping is not what we will discuss here. We are very careful about kidnapping issue, because if you go too hard, they may kill the person (victim). But at the time they are doing that, we try to see how we can get them, we have been arresting them.”
