In the early hours of today, at least 10 boat passengers were abducted along the Bonny-Port Harcourt waterways in Rivers State by gunmen suspected to be sea pirates. The incident reportedly occurred around 7 am near the Dutch Island area as the passenger boat was en route from Bonny to Port Harcourt.
While details remain unclear, sources indicate that the gunmen intercepted the boat at gunpoint, forcibly taking the passengers. The Rivers State Police Command has yet to confirm the incident.
This abduction highlights ongoing concerns about safety on the state’s waterways. Recently, members of the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Rivers Commercial District, led by Comrade Israel Waribo Pepple, protested to Governor Siminalayi Fubara about the frequent attacks by sea pirates on passengers and workers.
Pepple expressed frustration over the security agencies’ focus on protecting multinational oil companies rather than ensuring the safety of ordinary citizens using the waterways. He called on the government to take immediate action to protect the lives and livelihoods of those who depend on these routes.
