Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria in Rivers State has called for security around the waterways following frequent pirate attacks on the waterways, especially, in the Kalabari stretch, comprising Akuku-Toru, Asari-Toru and Degema councils of the state.
The Guardian recalls that a female passenger was thrown into the water on Monday after pirates hijacked two boats along Kula waterways in Akuku-Toru Council.
The state chairman of maritime workers, Israel Pepple, who confirmed that the body of the female passenger has been recovered, called on the state government and security agencies to boost security on the waterways to prevent further attacks.
Pepple said: “Security personnel deployed to Kula are just at the waterways with no gun boats, nothing to work with, you will only see them when they are escorting companies’ barges.”
“The attack has been very frequent and government needs to bring gun boats and position them in strategic areas. There is need to beef up security on the waterways so that such reoccurring insecurity will be reduced drastically “
Pepple disclosed that the matter has been reported to the police, adding that business activities, which were earlier shutdown in the area, have resumed on the Abonnema/Kula waterways.
