Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — One person has been killed, while two others have been abducted during an attack by suspected sea pirates, on a passenger boat along Isaka River, Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The passengers were travelling from Port-Harcourt to Bonny at about 10am on Monday, when the suspected sea pirates hijacked their boats and fled with two occupants, said to be wealthy.
Eye witnesses say the passengers became stranded on the creek, as a result of the attack.
They called security agencies to intensify surveillance in the coastal communities.
“A new boat with new engine was hijacked this morning at Isaka area, that is the latest mode of crime on waterways, when they see new boats with new engine, they attack it and offload the passengers at the creek, so as usual, the passengers were dropped at the creek while the hoodlums whisked away two people believed to be rich among them.
“The reoccurrence of pirates attack has been a source of concern, we are no longer safe and the saddest thing is that nothing is being done by relevant authorities to stop this menace.”
Last Sunday, suspected pirates also attacked passengers at Owokiri/Opopo Riser, and kidnapped some persons.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer, Rivers State Police Command, Nnamdi Omoni, says the command was yet to be briefed on the incident.
Omoni, however, disclosed said the police was taking drastic actions to contain the wave of sea piracy attacks on waterways.
“We have only five gunboats in the state to cover the coastal communities. We are utilizing them judiciously to cover such areas but we need the cooperation of the communities to achieve optimum security.
“We need information from them and the earlier they share the information with the police, the better for us.
“security of the waterways should not be a one-way traffic, it needs adequate collaboration between the police and the communities to fight such menace.”