By Brave Dickson
Following recent attacks on passengers by pirates along Bonny waterways, stakeholders in the water transport sector under the auspices of the Maritime Workers Union, Bonny Unit have criticized the Rivers State Government for not synergizing with them.
The union wondered why the state government would procure gunboats for its recently launched security outfit code-named: ‘Operation Sting’ without seeking the opinion of the union on how best to secure the state waterways.
The Wike-led state government had procured 76 patrol vehicles equipped with communication gadgets; eight armoured fitted gunboats to tighten coastal security and protect the waterways from the activities of criminals, two Armoured Personnel Carriers for police swift response actions; 450 hand-held mobile radios to enhance communication for the security operatives to overcome growing criminal threats in the state among others.
The union who spoke with our correspondent through its Treasurer, Mr Josiah Akums said all the gunboats donated by the state government to secure the state waterways are nowhere to be found.
He said there are nohow any government can bypass them and achieve success because the union has enormous intelligence and strategies that can help secure the waterways, adding that the union is always ready to work with government to safeguard the waterways.
Mr Akums said: “We have had a series of pirate attacks along Bonny waterways. Before this recent incident, we were attacked by pirates. They collected our boats and robbed passengers and up till now, we have not recovered our stolen boats.
“We will always appeal to the state government because the gunboats we learnt that the governor donated for Operation Sting to use are nowhere to be found. It is only one gunboat we see marine police usually station at a particular place and it can not provide the needed security on the waterways.
“We have always said that if government wants to secure the waterways, they should call the maritime unions and we will tell them how to secure the water routes.
“We know that if the presence of security agents were well felt on the sea, we will not be having pirate attacks. Well, we still leave the security of our waterways in the hands of God because security agents have failed us.”
