One killed, others injured as sea pirates attack travellers

Normalcy Returns To Zamfara Community After Kidnap Incident

A sea traveller has been reportedly killed, while scores of others got injured along Billie Waterways, Degema Local Council of Rivers State following a pirate attack on Friday evening.

An indigene of the community, who witnessed the incident, Bebe Oyigbo, told newsmen in Port Harcourt that the passengers were on their way to Port Harcourt from Billie when the gunmen suspected to be sea pirates attacked them.

According to Oyigbo, the corpse of the victim hit by a bullet had been recovered. He said: “We have entered the water and succeeded in rescuing one person. We also recovered one corpse that was taken back to the community.” 

He called on Rivers State government and security agencies to beef up security along the waterways, lamenting that pirate attacks were becoming frequent in the area.

River State Police Command Public Relation Officer, Iringe Grace Koko, confirmed the incident. She said other passengers who sustained bullet injuries had been taken to hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile, sequel to the abduction of unspecified number of persons in the remote village of Zugu, Bukkuyum Local Council of Zamfara State, on Friday, the state Police Command has deployed additional tactical operatives to support the ongoing effort of the Area Commander and District Police Office (DPO) in rescuing the kidnapped victims hale and hearty. 
  
A top police source disclosed that following police response to the distress call from the area, bandits’ further attempt to invade the neighbouring communities and abduct innocent persons was repelled and normalcy had since been restored. Just as efforts to rescue the abducted victims unhurt and arrest the perpetrators of the crime were ongoing. 
   
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Kolo Yusuf, while reassuring the command’s commitment to rid the state of criminal activities, appeals for continuous support and collaboration to all the security operatives in an effort to achieve this mandate.” State Police spokesman, Mohammed Shehu said.