Five individuals launched by pirates who pirated their boat on their method from the Safe Journey beach in Calabar, Cross River State, to Oron beach in Akwa Ibom State on January 17, 2021, have actually said other victims, consisting of a Professor from the University of Calabar and a naval officer, may lose their lives if they are unable to raise N3 million each.

The Calabar channel is manned by the Marine Police and the Nigerian Navy.

The pirates, on Wednesday, blindfolded and released a four-year-old child, a pregnant woman, a hurt individual, an elderly lady and the driver of the boat at Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State.

The released victims, who recounted their ordeal, stated they heard them vow that if by weekend those still in their den can not pay the ransom then they will be eliminated.

The chauffeur of the speed boat, Bassey Udo Essien, who is now in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) informed newsmen how the hijack occurred, adding that the pirates were heavily equipped.

He said he was freed to enter order to take among the victims who was fatally wounded by the pirates’ bullets for treatment since the abductors had no type of medication in the camp.

“In the morning of Monday, 17 January 2022, we filled from Calabar to Oron. Instantly we passed all the rounds and close to the Marine police at about 9:00 AM, we drove in the middle of the water since if we drive by the side of the water those sea pirates will rapidly assault us. Just a few minutes, about ten minutes drive we saw them driving to fulfill us, I increased the speed of our boat to the highest however sadly, it was not quickly enough because our engine is 115 (horsepower) while theirs is 200 (horsepower).

“I could not decrease due to the fact that I was trying to leave from them, they started shooting. They shut sporadically at us and sadly, the bullet captured among the travelers by the name Jesam on the face, near the ear who sat at the 2nd bench of the boat.

“Those pirates were up to 8 in their boat fully armed with an AK-47 rifle, some masked their faces while some did not mask face, although I do not know any of them.

“I was accelerating to cross to the Marine Police area so they can return but my boat can not speed than their own. They Kidnapped us and took us to one dangerous creek, we just departed Calabar and had actually not approached Oron. At the creek where they took us, they robbed us and gathered each and every single thing we had– phones, money, shoes, wristwatches, bags, ATM cards, locket, my boat; whatever and also beat us.

“The rest are still in their camp, they are requiring three million Naira for each of us and we are 17 of us. I and the guest who sustained gunshot wounds, Jesam did not leave they saw he was at the point of death with the gun injury because on Monday and perhaps they thought if they permit him there he may die since absolutely nothing like treatment in their creek. They collected his phone, cash, laptop computer and because I was the one taking care of the guy there, they gathered my money about N49,000, phone took my boat and allowed me to choose him. They beat me up and forced me to tell them my ATM pin which I do not know if they have actually removed whatever in the account due to the fact that they gathered my sim card too.

“They brought five of us in their boat and told us to set. The five of us they freed to go were; one pregnant woman, an aged female and a young boy of about four years and are still left with 12 more individuals in their camp. They discarded us where we do not even understand or find our way someplace in Akpabuyo, let’s say 10:00 AM because I have no time with me. Luckily for me and Jesam we were able to discover a bike.

“We were seven (7) ladies and ten (10) kids in the boat. My worry for those ladies is that those pirates might rape them.

“There was a Navy personnel amongst us but we didn’t reveal the person due to the fact that they asked and saw the uniform who the individual was, they would have eliminated the personnel or any consistent male. I informed them the uniform is a waybill. The place they kept us is so terrible, mosquitoes and other bugs biting us. They kept ladies one side, men one side.

“While they were taking us to their camp, they forced us to close our eyes and flex down without looking up to see where they were taking us to. Even while they were taking 5 people out to free, they blindfolded our eyes, particularly my own. It was a terrible experience; they will prepare whatever and anyhow food they like and state if you like you consume if you don’t, leave.

“Eight of them came to abduct us but in their camp, they are many, they don’t even have one camp, we discovered they have up to three camps– outside the camp, inside the camp and their main camp which they took us to their outside camp, how much more their within and main camps. Among the victims who attempted leaving was recaptured and was well beaten.”