In a harrowing tale of survival on the high seas, three Chinese crew members kidnapped by armed pirates off the coast of Ghana have been rescued in Nigeria after nearly a month in captivity. What began as a routine fishing operation aboard MV MENGXIN I turned into a nightmare, as sea pirates stormed the vessel, abducted the foreign nationals, and vanished into the waters, setting off a transnational security operation that ended with their miraculous return.
On March 27, 2025, at approximately 7:30 p.m., the fishing vessel MV MENGXIN I was attacked by five armed sea pirates off the coast of Nyanyano, Ghana. According to the Marine Police Command, three of the attackers were wielding AK-47 assault rifles and fired warning shots before storming the vessel using wooden canoes powered by outboard motors.
The pirates destroyed the vessel’s communication systems and abducted three Chinese nationals from among the 24 crew members onboard. The remaining 21 survivors later returned with the vessel to the Tema Fishing Harbour, and a formal complaint was lodged with the Marine Police the following morning.
In response, the Ghana Police Service initiated a high-level investigation in collaboration with the Ghana Maritime Authority, Ghana Navy, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, the National Investigation Bureau, and the Fisheries Observer Programme.
Nearly a month later, on April 26, Ghanaian authorities received information from the Chinese Embassy in Lagos that the abducted crew had been rescued in Nigeria’s Delta State.
A delegation led by the Director-General of the CID received the rescued men at Kotoka International Airport on April 27, 2025. Though physically unharmed, the victims showed signs of severe psychological trauma and were immediately referred for medical care.
During a debrief at the Ghana Police Headquarters in Accra, the crew shared a chilling account of their ordeal. After being blindfolded, they were transported by sea for 24 hours and then by motorcycle and foot through remote terrain to a makeshift camp deep within the Niger Delta. Guarded at gunpoint for nearly a month, the hostages were unexpectedly abandoned on April 25. They wandered into a nearby village and were able to place a call that eventually led to their rescue.
Following the investigation, four individuals have been arrested in connection with the piracy incident. The suspects, Boatswain Clever Victor Kwodzo Akorli, Eugene Chibuike Mmuoebonam, Chinese cook Zhao Lianhong, and second engineer Zhao Hua, have appeared before the Tema District Court as investigations continue.
The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has praised the swift cooperation between Ghanaian and Nigerian authorities that made the rescue possible. He assured the public that the fight against maritime crime remains a top priority.
Three Chinese nationals kidnapped by pirates off Ghana’s coast have been rescued in Nigeria after nearly a month in captivity. The MV MENGXIN I was attacked by armed pirates on March 27, and the victims were taken on a 24-hour journey through sea and jungle to a remote camp in the Niger Delta.
Abandoned without warning, the crew members eventually found help in a village and were taken to the Chinese Embassy in Lagos.
They were flown back to Ghana on April 27, where the Inspector-General of Police welcomed them.
Four suspects are in custody as investigations continue.
This daring international rescue shines a light on the growing threat of maritime piracy and the power of cross-border security cooperation.
By Peter Quao Adattor
