The Ghana Police Service say three Chinese crew members who were abducted by pirates during an attack on a Ghanaian fishing vessel have been rescued in Nigeria.
Lydia Donkor, director-general (DG) of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Accra, confirmed the incident during a press briefing on Tuesday, according to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication.
Donkor said the incident occurred on March 27 when pirates armed with AK-47 rifles attacked a vessel off Yenyano Waters near Tema in Ghana, using wooden canoes powered by outboard motors.
She said the assailants destroyed the vessel’s communication equipment before abducting the Chinese crew members.
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The police chief explained that the victims were blindfolded and transported by speedboats for 24 hours to a remote, marshy area later identified as the Delta region of Nigeria.
According to her, the captives were moved on motorcycles and later forced to walk to a makeshift camp, where they were held at gunpoint until April 25, when the kidnappers unexpectedly abandoned them.
She said the victims made their way to a nearby village, where locals helped them contact the Chinese embassy in Lagos.
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The embassy confirmed receiving the sailors on April 26 and subsequently handed them over to Ghanaian authorities at Kotoka International Airport on April 27.
A formal debriefing was conducted at the Police Headquarters in Accra on April 28.
Donkor noted that although the victims showed no visible signs of physical injury, they appeared traumatised and requested medical attention.
She said eight suspects have been arrested in connection with the abduction.
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The police chief listed those in custody to include Sueva Victor, Kojo Akweli, Eugene Chibuke, Mwonam, Zhao Lang Hao, a Chinese cook, and Zhao Hua, the second engineer.
She added that they all have been arraigned before the Tema district court as investigations continue.
