Breaking: Sea pirates attack water travellers in Rivers State, abduct one

Tina Amanda

Sea Pirates have attacked three passenger boats travelling to Port Harcourt from Bille Community, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.

One of the boat drivers Mr Okeipiriye MacDonald was abducted by the pirates and his whereabout yet unknown as at the time of filing this report.

The passengers travelling to Port Harcourt from the island community were evacuated at the mangroves by the attackers while their boat driver and three boats were taken away.

The passengers who spoke to our correspondent, Tina Amanda said they fear for driver’s safety.

In August the people of Bille kingdom said that they are yet to feel the presence of operation sting on their waterways.

Operation Sting, a new security architecture launched earlier in July by the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, had recorded success especially in curbing criminality along the Emohua Axis of the East-West Road.

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But Alabo Bennett Okpokiye-Dokubo, Chairman Bille Council Chiefs who stated this to our reporter, Tina Amanda, said weeks after the launch of gunboats by Governor Nyesom Wike, the gunboats had not been put to use in Bille waterways.

According to him, Bille passengers have been able to ply the water route for the main time, through the help of Laprago security outfit stationed in Bille kingdom, which escorts passengers on a daily basis.

“We have not seen the gunboats in our axis. For two months, Laprago security outfit and the Civil Defense Corp have been escorting Bille passengers to and fro on a daily basis, they escort about 10 – 20 boats loaded with passengers in the morning and also in the evening. We are making efforts to reach out to them and know why Bille have not gotten.”

He expressed hope that the Governor’s promise of making Bille waterways safe will fulfilled.