Security agencies in Rivers State particularly those mandated to guard the waterways have been urged to be alive to their responsibilities and awake in their duties so as to collectively intensify their operations in securing the waterways against the incessant sea pirates’ attacks on Port-Harcourt/Bonny water routes.
The call was made on Monday on the floor of the Rivers State House of Assembly by Lawmaker representing Bonny Constituency, Hon Abinye Blessing Pepple.
Recall that on Thursday 26th September 2019, passengers of two boats going to Port-Harcourt from Bonny and one boat coming from Port-Harcourt to Bonny were attacked and their properties forcefully dislodged from them.
Three passengers were kidnapped including Hon Prince Christy Wilcox (serving Councillor representing Ward 9, Bonny Legislative Assembly) Mr. aka BenHarry(A businessman) and Mr Precious Nwachukwu(a student).
Attacks on the waterways have become a recurring decimal at the brutal expense of citizens, indigenes and visitors of the Island of Bonny.
Pepple who tendered a “MOTION FOR URGENT REVIEW OF SECURITY MEASURES ALONG PORT-HARCOURT- BONNY WATER-WAY, CALL TO ACTION BY SECURITY AGENCIES” said that “most of my Constituents are itinerant traders and the Bonny Sea route is the gateway to their survival and the upsurge in the activities of sea pirates along the Bonny–Port Harcourt waterway which leads to loss of lives and properties is a matter that urgently needs to be tackled because sea pirates ambush their boats, rob travellers, kidnap some, cart – away with their properties and sometimes take their lives”.
He further urged the House to:
1. Condemn the spate of sea piracy on the waterway in Rivers State
- Urge the Rivers State Government to liaise with the relevant Security Agencies to make judicious use of the huge investment of the State by immediately dispatching adequate security personnel to protect the Port Harcourt – Bonny Sea route and other waterways in the State in order to save lives and properties;
- Urge the State Government to enforce the Anti-kidnap Law and other relevant laws that prohibit criminality in the State; and
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Any different resolutions the House may deem necessary in this circumstance.
He also called on the Federal Government to pay attention to the coastal plight of Bonny people by charging security operatives in the Marine sector to up their game in protecting and defending people while commending the State Government for its effort in providing gunboats but pleaded that Security Personnel in charge of the usage of the gunboats should optimally utilise it for the people it was donated for.
