Kelechi Kas
The Chairman of Degema Local Government Area, Tony Philmoore, has vowed to track down pirates terrorizing seafarers along the New Calabar River and its adjoining creeks in the LGA.
Philmoore who expressed pain over the incessant and life-threatening attacks boat drivers and passengers suffer at the waterways vowed to do everything possible within his jurisdiction as council chairman to deal with their tormentors.
Recall that unidentified gunmen on Saturday attacked three Bille passenger boats en-route Port Harcourt, killing at least three passengers while three others were fatally wounded.
According to a source, one of the boats was carted away.
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The source stressed that the third boat sent to rescue the passengers from the waterways was perforated with bullets by the pirates and sunk in the middle of the river.
The source said further that one of the boats was conveying a family and guests to a wedding taking place in Port Harcourt, adding that the gunmen forcibly hijacked the boat and their belongings while abandoning the passengers at a nearby mangrove.
But the LGA chair said he was aware that there had been a spike of criminality recently along the New Calabar River and would not leave any stone unturned in ensuring the safety of seafarers using that part of the river.
He, therefore, warned communities in that axis, not to hide criminals but report any suspicious characters to security agents without delay or have themselves to blame should there be any collateral damage during security raids in such communities.
Meanwhile, the council boss has commiserated with victims and families of the most recent pirate attack along the Bille Port Harcourt waterways and prayed to God to grant them all-round healing.
Dr Philmoore assured them better policing of the waterways and adequate security as the Yuletide approaches.
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