A DSS intelligence-led operation in Bayelsa State has uncovered a criminal network targeting vessels in the Gulf of Guinea.
On Saturday, operatives stormed a hotel on Tenacious Street, Yenagoa, arresting Geoffrey Atizara and Divine Kelechi Unueze.
Preliminary findings indicate the men were in the final stages of preparing an assault on an oil-laden vessel.
While Unueze allegedly provided the funding, Atizara coordinated the recruitment of pirates for the planned heist and abduction.
“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 revealed.
Another source, who stressed the implications of the arrest, 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 Department of State Services, in collaboration with the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies, has reportedly intensified intelligence-led operations to curb maritime insecurity.
“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 added.
Officials noted that the arrest of Atizara and Unueze represents a continuation of security efforts in the region.
The DSS had, less than a week ago, conducted joint operations with sister agencies and forest guards to rescue abducted pastors and other individuals in Kaduna and Borno States.
Authorities are holding the suspects in custody as investigations continue, with the DSS stressing the importance of intelligence-driven strategies in preventing maritime crime and protecting oil and shipping interests in the Gulf of Guinea.
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