Three Chinese crew members who were kidnapped by pirates during an attack on a Ghanaian fishing vessel have been rescued in Nigeria, the Ghana Police Service announced on Tuesday.
The crew, abducted from MV Menhin-1 on March 27, 2025, were freed nearly a month later and returned to Ghana after being found in a remote part of Nigeria’s Delta region.
At a press briefing held at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters in Accra, the Director-General of the CID, COP Lydia Yaako Donkor, said the attack occurred at about 7:30 p.m. off the Yenyano Waters near Tema. The pirates, armed with AK-47 rifles and using wooden canoes fitted with outboard motors, boarded the vessel, destroyed its communication system, and took the three Chinese nationals hostage.
The Marine Police Command in Tema received the complaint from the fishing company the following morning, on March 28, and immediately launched an investigation in collaboration with the Ghana Maritime Authority, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, National Investigation Bureau, the Ghana Navy, and the Fisheries Observer.
According to the police, the pirates blindfolded the victims and transported them in speedboats for 24 hours to a marshy area later identified as the Delta region of Nigeria.
From there, they were moved on motorcycles and taken on foot to a makeshift camp where they were held at gunpoint until April 25, when they were suddenly abandoned.
The victims managed to reach a nearby village where locals assisted them to make contact with the Chinese embassy in Lagos, Nigeria.
The embassy confirmed the rescue on April 26 and handed them over to Ghanaian authorities at the Kotoka International Airport on April 27.
A debriefing was conducted at the Police Headquarters in Accra on April 28.
While there were no visible signs of physical harm, the victims appeared traumatised and requested medical attention.
The Inspector General of Police engaged with the victims and expressed sympathy and support for their ordeal.
So far, the police have arrested eight individuals in connection with the case. Those arrested include Sueva Victor, Kojo Akweli, Eugene Chibuke, Mwonam, Chinese cook Zhao Lang Hao, and second engineer Zhao Hua.
They have been arraigned before the Tema District Court as investigations continue.
Police commended all stakeholders involved in the multi-agency operation for their swift action and coordination that led to the rescue of the kidnapped crew members.