No fewer than ten passengers had been kidnapped when suspected pirates attacked a passenger boat within the Bonny waterway in Rivers State on Monday.
It was gathered that the boat was travelling from Bonny to Port Harcourt at about 10km when the incident occurred.
Although particulars of the incident couldn’t be ascertained as of the time of submitting this report, the maritime employees union within the state has confirmed the incident.
The State Chairman of the Maritime Employees Union of Nigeria, Rivers Business District, Israel Pepple, confirmed the incident to newsmen in Port Harcourt on Monday.
Pepple mentioned the kidnapped boat passengers had been travelling from Bonny Island to Port Harcourt when the suspected pirates swooped on them.
He mentioned the incident has been reported to the police, whilst he known as on the federal government and related safety to beef up safety within the waterways to forestall incessant assaults on the ocean.
He acknowledged, “As I communicate to you proper now, ten individuals have been kidnapped whereas travelling from Bonny to Port Harcourt. And the others are nonetheless afloat within the River ready for rescue.
“I mentioned let me simply draw the eye of the Rivers State Governor, the Speaker of the State Home of Meeting and the Commissioner of Police that we visited final week that that is what has occurred this morning once more.”
This incident got here lower than every week after the maritime union members protested on the authorities home in Port Harcourt to complain concerning the upsurge of pirate assaults on the waterways.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the state Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident, saying the investigation was ongoing.
Iringe-Koko mentioned, “Sure we’re conscious. Investigation is ongoing to make sure that they’re rescued unharmed.
“The Commissioner of Police has ordered the Divisional Police Officer and different tactical models to additionally make sure the arrest of the hoodlums and make them face justice. “