Pirates Abduct Two American Sailors In Bayelsa as US NAVY Simulates Rescue In Oron

The Nigerian Navy on Thursday disclosed that two American sailors had been abducted by
suspected pirates off the coastal lines of Brass Island in Bayelsa State.

The abduction occurred as naval officers from the US and the Netherlands offered training maneuvers to the Nigerian Armed Forces in Oron, Akwa Ibom State. The training session is ongoing along the Atlantic coastline. It was unknown whether the US naval personnel will play a role in efforts to rescue the abducted sailors.

Nigeria’s Director of Naval Information, Commodore Kabiru Aliyu, confirmed the incident to newsmen in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital. He disclosed that the Navy had embarked on an operation aimed at rescuing the Americans.

“The Nigerian Navy has received a report on the attack of a U.S.-flagged vessel, C-Retriever,” said the naval officer. He added, “Accordingly, the Nigerian Navy has directed its Operational Commands and the Operational Bases to search [for] and rescue the crew members and the vessel.”

Last Wednesday, pirates had shot and killed two soldiers attached to the Joint Task Force in an ambush along the waterways in Ikuru community in Andoni local government area of Rivers. In addition, some gunmen attacked two policemen in Ikeingheinbiri community. One of the police officers died, while the other survived. The wounded policeman is listed on “danger list” in a private clinic in Bayelsa.