Pirates attack passenger boat in Rivers, abduct five
Heavily armed pirates have attacked a passenger boat in Rivers State and abducted five passengers.
The incident occurred on the waterways between Degema and Akuku-Toru Local Government Area while the boat was heading to Port Harcourt from Bills in Degema Local Government Area.
Five of the seven people on board were abducted, local sources and the police said.
Those allowed to go were a sick woman and the boat driver, the Executive Director of Youths Environmental Advocacy Center, Dr Fyneface Dumnamene said in a statement.
When contacted, Chairman of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Port Harcourt Commercial District, Isreal Peple, confirmed the incident, saying it occurred on Saturday.
“The police are aware because we reported it already, but since then, we haven’t heard anything. We are calling for their unconditional release. Let the waterways be safe for our people to travel freely.”
The spokesperson of Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, also confirmed the incident, saying efforts were on to rescue the victims and apprehend the criminals.
