DSS Thwarts Oil Vessel Hijack Plot in Gulf of Guinea, Arrests Suspected Pirates

The Department of State Services (DSS) has made a significant breakthrough in combating maritime security threats by apprehending two suspects allegedly involved in a piracy syndicate planning to hijack an oil vessel in the Gulf of Guinea. The arrests took place in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State.

The suspects, who were detained following credible intelligence, were in the final stages of planning the attack. They confessed to intending to seize the vessel, kidnap its crew, and steal its cargo.

The syndicate members also revealed their connections to high-profile criminal networks operating in the South-East and South-South regions of the country. The DSS, in collaboration with other security agencies, has intensified intelligence-driven operations to address the escalating maritime security threats in the region.

Recent joint efforts have resulted in intercepting pirate speedboats and rescuing crew members from hijacked vessels off the coasts of Bayelsa and Delta States. Additionally, the DSS has conducted successful operations in other parts of the country, including the rescue of an abducted pastor in Kaduna and Borno States.