Gunmen suspected to be pirates have hijacked three boats and kidnapped 19 passengers along the Isaka River in Okirika Local Government Area of Rivers State, on Tuesday afternoon.
Reports indicate that one of the boats was en route to Bonny Island, while the others were heading towards the Cawthorne Channel in the Bille area of Degema Local Government. The pirates struck during the journey, stealing goods and property worth millions of naira.
Israel Pepple, the Chairman of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Rivers State chapter, confirmed the attack. He stated that 13 passengers, including the driver, were kidnapped from one boat, while six passengers were taken from another boat headed to Bonny Island. The total number of kidnapped victims stood at 19.
Pepple expressed frustration with the frequent attacks, saying the union was considering taking drastic actions, including downing tools, to pressure the government to address the increasing attacks on the state’s waterways. “The situation is becoming routine, and they see it as a business. As soon as the victims are released, they come back to kidnap again,” Pepple said.
He also raised concerns over the non-utilization of military gunboats provided by the Rivers State government to secure the waterways, citing that the boats lack the necessary fuel and logistics for operation. “The gunboats are there, close to our office, but no fuel to operate them. That is the worst part of it,” he lamented.
Pepple called on the state Sole Administrator and security agencies to urgently intervene and improve security along the state’s waterways, emphasizing the need for more practical actions to combat the growing menace.
