Tina Amanda
The people of Bille Kingdom in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State have made demands from the Federal, State, and Local governments to urgently put a stop to the continuous attack on Bille boat passengers by pirates, which has resulted in the loss of lives and property on a daily basis.
The demands became imperative following the recent attack on boats en route Bille, on 24 and 25 October, 2020, leading to the death of one Taminoemi Kemuel, a father of six, with several others wounded and reported missing.
In an interview with our correspondent, Former Bille Kingdom Community Development Committee, Asatubo Igbanibo Kemuel, lamented that the attacks have become a daily occurrence, claiming that it is a deliberate attempt by unknown persons to exterminate Bille people.
“My concern is that the people of Bille are being targeted at, it is not only Bille passengers boat that ply that route, but other boats that ply the same waterway also are not being attacked. We are beginning to feel there are some persons targeting to exterminate Bille people.
“Enough is enough, our lives matter a lot, we are suffering, we are dying and it has become a regular occurrence every day, every week. We can not ply our water routes peacefully.
“It appears there is economic sabotage against us, they are waging economic war and blockage on us, for us not to go out or come into our communities again. This is a targeted plan against Bille people”
On his part, Damiete Sanipe, a family member to the late Taminoemi Kemuel expressed displeasure over the attitude of men of the 29 Tactical Battalion of the Nigerian Army stationed in Bille main town, for their failure in making efforts to protect the lives and property of Bille people.
“There is actually a 29 Tactical Battalion of the Nigerian Army stationed in Bille Kingdom and they are doing nothing to secure or protect lives and property of Bille people.
“To provide security is not just the Army subjecting us to raising up our hands whenever we are going out or coming into Bille Kingdom, that is not security. What is the Nigerian Army doing in Bille Kingdom if they can not protect lives and property of the people?.
“Is the government and Nigerian Army waiting till we carry arms to defend ourselves, then they will tag is to be militants? The government needs to be proactive, we elected them into power, they should not wait until we begin to shout before they provide us with security, it is our basic right to be given security.
“Bille people is demanding what is deserving of every human being which is security of lives and property, it is no more news that for a very long time our waterways have been continuously under pirate attack.
“We have pleaded with government, we have called on all concerned authorities and individuals yet nothing is being done about it, we have been left to our fate. Yesterday we lost lives due to pirates’ attack, on 24 October, pirates attacked Bille boats, made away with our boats and lives were almost lost.
“We can no longer condone this incessant attack on Bille people, we need a rapid response from the government, we need the government to act immediately and safe more lives from being killed”
