Suspect nabbed over attack on Italian vessel, abduction of sailors

By Samuel Oyadongha

Yenagoa — Security operatives in Bayelsa State have arrested one person in connection with Sunday night’s pirates’ attack on an Italian vessel off the Atlantic fringe of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

Four sailors, among them three Italians, were abducted during the Sunday attack, the latest in the series of attacks on foreign vessels by suspected pirates in the nation’s territorial waters.

File Photo: *Suspected Pirates

The suspect, whose identity could not be immediately ascertained, a security source told Vanguard, was nabbed Wednesday night, during a raid reportedly launched by security operatives in the blighted waterways in the wake of Sunday’s attack on the Italian vessel, MV Asso Ventuno, on Pennington River.

The Nigerian Navy spokesman, it will be recalled, had on Monday, said five vessels had been deployed to patrol the area.

Confirming the development, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Fidelis Odunna, said the arrest was made by security operatives during a raid in the creek.

He declined comment on the identity of the arrested person.