Again, pirates hijack passenger boat in Rivers, 12 missing  

Sea pirates on Thursday hijacked a passenger boat carrying 20 travellers along the Bonny-Okrika waterways in Rivers State.

The Guardian gathered that the driver of the passenger boat went contrary to the rules by passing through kilometre 10, which is a prohibited channel for commercial boat drivers.

It was also learned that, of the number, nine persons have been rescued while the search is on to rescue the others.

There have been incessant attacks by pirates on sea travellers despite the efforts of the state government to stop the trend.

The Chairman of Bonny Local Government Area, Anengi Claude-Wilcox, who confirmed the incident, said the rescue was in collaboration with security agencies.

Claude-Wilcox, in a statement by his media aide, Boma Waribor, on Friday, said: “Security briefing indicates that a passenger boat comprising 20 persons en route Bonny was intercepted this afternoon by sea pirates around the precincts of Isaka in Okrika Local Government Area.

“However, it should be noted that nine persons have been found and returned to Port Harcourt through the timely intervention of government security operatives who are currently up and about and have intensified efforts to rescue the remaining 12 passengers.”

The LG boss urged relatives of the victims and the public to remain calm as efforts are underway, collaborating with neighbouring LGAs and security agencies to arrest the situation.

Meanwhile, the Maritime Union Workers of Nigeria, Rivers State chapter, has expressed concern over the continued pirate attacks in the state.

The Chairman of the MUWN, Rivers Commercial District, Isreal Wariboko, while reacting, decried the incessant attacks despite the efforts of the state government to stop the trend.

He noted that the pirates came out with different strategies in each operation, adding that the miscreants resided in the mangrove.

He said, “Of course, you know these boys. When they know that there is security in this area, they go to another area to operate. They are criminals.

“The truth of the matter is that they are somehow in the mangrove and they monitor activities of security agencies and the movement of every individual. So they come out when they see that the place is a little bit free.

“Sometimes, security can be at the front and they operate behind. Sometimes, when they know that they are there, they go ahead of the security. That is the way they operate. As long as they are in the mangrove, we will continue to see this type of attack once in a while.”

He, however, called for more security presence along the waterways to curb the incessant attacks, even as he said the latest attack has been reported to the police.

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He said, “You will recall that after our protest and the donation of gunboats by the governor, we have not complained about pirate attacks along our sea routes.

“Just recently, they have devised another means. I will go out there and find out what really happened to know whether the boat followed the real route or diverted to another route.

“The marine police are aware of the matter and I know that they are handling it. As a union too, we have sent a search party twice today.”