Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of five passengers by suspected sea pirates along the Port Harcourt-Bille waterways, assuring that a tactical rescue operation was currently underway.
Spokesperson of the Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, in an official statement, disclosed that the Commissioner of Police has directed a swift response by marine and tactical units to ensure the safe rescue of the victims and the arrest of the perpetrators.
“Yes, the incident did occur. The Commissioner of Police has mandated the Officer-in-Charge of the Marine Unit, along with his team and the Tactical Team Commander, to ensure that the victims are rescued unharmed and that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are apprehended and brought to justice.”
According to the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre, YEAC-Nigeria, the victims were traveling from Bille to Port Harcourt when their boat was intercepted by armed pirates. Of the six people onboard, five were taken hostage, while an elderly woman and the boat driver were freed.
Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, Executive Director of YEAC-Nigeria, said, “The woman was reportedly ill and heading to Port Harcourt for medical attention. She pleaded with the pirates to let her go, citing her health and age. They allowed her and the boat driver to go while taking the other five into their own boat and fleeing.”
The identities of the kidnapped victims, all of whom are natives of Bille Kingdom in Degema Local Government Area, have not yet been disclosed. Their current whereabouts remain unknown as security agencies intensify search and rescue operations.
This incident is the latest in a series of attacks that have plagued waterways in Rivers State, sparking growing concerns over the safety of commuters in the riverine areas.
YEAC-Nigeria and concerned Nigerians are calling for enhanced maritime security to protect coastal residents and travelers.
“We demand urgent deployment of security forces to these waterways. The lives of our people are constantly at risk, and these criminal activities must be stopped,” Dr. Fyneface stressed.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command is appealing to the public for any useful information that could aid the rescue efforts, while assuring residents of its commitment to ensuring peace and security across the state.
