By Sampson Boroh
Gunmen suspected to be sea pirates have reportedly attacked commercial boats travellers in Nembe, Brass and Akassa areas of Brass and Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa kidanpping a 64-year-old traditional chief and six other passengers.
The incident is said to have fuel tension in the creeks of Bayelsa as the gunmen were alleged to have been operating in the areas unchalleneged.
The State Chairman of the Nigerian Maritime Union, Comrade Ogoniba Ibingansi, who confirmed the development, said the creeks are no longer safe for business activities.
Ibingansi said boats operating along Odioma, Akassa, Brass and Nembe waterways were no longer loading and passengers have been asked to turn back.
He said security agencies including the Special Adviser on Security matters to the Bayelsa State Government are battling on ways to counter the pirates, “the boys have taken over the water routes.”
It was gathered that the sea pirates have been operating along the waters since last Sunday, “it is funny. They attack some boats and Rob all the passengers on Monday evening.
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“They abducted three persons, they attacked another boat and kidnapped four. They used the earlier boat to release the first three persons.”
It was gathered that on Monday evening, along the Yenagoa-Akassa in Brass Local Government route, an Igbo businessman was stripped naked and taken away by the heavily armed sea pirates.
The sea pirates were reported yesterday to have surfaced in Odioma community and attacked a boat heading to Nembe around 2pm. They took away one person.
They attacked another boat heading to Brass from Nembe and abducted three persons.
Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State Police Command has confirmed the sea pirate attacks in the state waterways, saying police have launched rescue operation for the victims.
The command in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Asinim Butswat, confirmed the development on Wednesday.
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“The Commissioner of Police Bayelsa State Command, CP Mike Okoli fsi, has ordered immediate manhunt for the kidnappers who attacked speedboats and Kidnapped passengers on the Okpoma/Odioma and Nembe/ Brass waterways on 9th February, 2021.
“The two separate incidents occurred simultaneously and six passengers were allegedly Kidnapped by unknown gunmen suspected to be sea pirates.
“In a joint operation, operatives from the Marine Police, Navy and Joint Task Force ‘Operation Delta Safe’ are combing the creeks to rescue the kidnapped victims and apprehend the kidnappers.
“The Command appeals to the good people of Bayelsa State to remain calm and volunteer useful information to enable the security agencies fish out these hoodlums”, the statement said.
