4 arrested in kidnapping of Chinese nationals from Ghanaian vessel - Police

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service has made four arrests. These individuals are connected to the kidnapping of three Chinese nationals. The victims were taken from a Ghanaian vessel at Tema Port.

In April, three Chinese crew members were kidnapped. This occurred after a suspected pirate attack on the fishing vessel Mengxin 1. The attack happened within Ghanaian territorial waters.

The missing crew included the captain, chief mate, and chief engineer. They were unaccounted for after the assailants left the ship.

Reports indicate that seven armed men boarded the vessel around 5:53 p.m. They fired warning shots and forced several crew members into a secure compartment. The attackers stayed on board for nearly three hours, rounding up crew members and seizing their mobile phones before leaving.

On May 6, CID Director-General DCOP Lydia Ayaako Donkor addressed the media. She stated that suspected pirates abducted the Chinese nationals and took them to Nigeria. There, they were eventually abandoned.

Donkor noted that the Ghana Police Service is actively involved in this case. They are working with relevant agencies to investigate further. Four suspects linked to the abduction have been arrested.

Investigations are ongoing. Security agencies in both Ghana and Nigeria are coordinating efforts to find more suspects and uncover the broader network behind this kidnapping.