Gunmen suspected to be pirates have attacked a passenger boat traveling along the waterways between Degema and Akuku-Toru Local Government Areas in Rivers State, abducting five passengers.
The boat, which was en route from Bille in Degema LGA to Port Harcourt, came under attack near the Cawthorne Channel in Akuku-Toru LGA, sources told NEWS BULLETIN.
According to reports, the armed assailants diverted five passengers to an unknown location. The Chairman of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Port Harcourt Commercial District, Isreal Pepple, confirmed the incident, saying it had been reported to the police.
“The police are aware because we reported it already. But since then, we have not heard anything,” Pepple said. “We are calling for their unconditional release. Let the waterways be safe for our people to travel freely.”
Fyneface Dumnamene, Executive Director of the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC), also confirmed the attack. He disclosed that one of the passengers, an elderly woman, was released after pleading with the pirates due to her poor health. The boat driver was also freed to transport her to Port Harcourt for medical attention.
“The boat attacked by the pirates was carrying six people. Five were taken hostage while the elderly woman, who was reportedly ill, was released after appealing to the attackers. The pirates allowed the boat driver to take her to Port Harcourt,” Dumnamene stated.
He added that all the kidnapped victims are natives of Bille Kingdom.
As of the time of filing this report, the Rivers State Police Command had not issued an official statement regarding the incident.
