DSS Arrests Suspected Sea Pirates, Thwarts Crude Oil Vessel Hijack in Gulf of Guinea

The Department of State Services (DSS) on Saturday apprehended two suspected sea pirates in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, preventing a planned hijack of a crude oil-laden vessel and the abduction of its crew in the Gulf of Guinea.

The suspects, identified as Geoffrey Atizara, 38, from Aleibiri in Ekeremor Local Government Area, and Divine Kelechi Unueze, 42, from Nekede in Owerri, Imo State, were arrested at a hotel on Tenacious Street in the Edepie area of Yenagoa, security sources said.

Preliminary investigations and confessional statements revealed that the suspects, along with other members of the gang, were plotting to seize the vessel, abduct crew members, and steal the cargo. Unueze was reportedly the financier of the operation, while Atizara was responsible for recruiting additional pirates.

“The duo have admitted to being part of a high-profile criminal network operating in the South East and South South parts of Nigeria, mainly profiting from sea piracy and kidnapping,” a security source said.

“Given the sophistication and the resources at the disposal of this pirate band, this arrest has disrupted what could have been a major threat to maritime security in the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea region,” the source added.

Another source noted that the DSS, in collaboration with the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies, has stepped up intelligence-driven operations to curb maritime crimes in the region.

“Recent successes include the interception of several pirate speedboats and the rescue of crew members from hijacked vessels off the coasts of Bayelsa and Delta States,” the source revealed.

The arrest of Atizara and Unueze adds to ongoing security efforts in the region. Just a week ago, the DSS, alongside other security agencies and forest guards, rescued abducted pastors and other victims in Kaduna and Borno States.

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