BREAKING: Many Travellers Feared Abducted As Pirates Hijack Boat
A passengers boat carrying 20 travellers was hijacked by suspected pirates along the Bonny-Okrika waterways in Rivers State on Thursday.
The Bonny Local Government Council, Anengi Claude-Wilcox who confirmed the incident in statement issued through his media aide, Boma Waribor, on Friday, said that nine passengers had been rescued and returned to Port Harcourt.
Claude-Wilcox explained that rescue efforts are ongoing, with a frantic search for the remaining 12 passengers.
According to him, the driver of the passenger boat disobeyed rules by passing through Kilometer 10, a prohibited channel for commercial boat drivers.
The council is working closely with neighboring local government areas and security agencies to resolve the situation, the Council boss said, while he urged relatives of the victims and the public to remain calm as rescue efforts continue.
According to the statement, “Security briefing at the disposal of the Executive Chairman of Bonny Local Government Area, Anengi Barasua Claude-Wilcox, indicates that a passenger boat comprising 20 persons en route Bonny was intercepted this afternoon by sea pirates around the precincts of Isaka in the 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.
“It should be noted that preliminary findings reveal that the Boat Driver disobeyed the rules and passed through Kilometer 10, a prohibited channel for commercial Boat Drivers.
“The relatives of the victims and the public are urged to be calm as the Bonny Local Government Council is seriously collaborating with neighbouring LGAs and the security agencies to arrest the situation.”
It was reported that this incident is the latest in a series of pirate attacks along the waterways in Rivers State.
The Nigerian Navy has also reported rescuing 20 passengers from pirates on the Bonny-Port Harcourt sea route.
