Tuesday, April 8, 2025 - Suspected pirates have abducted at least five passengers along the Port Harcourt-Bille waterways in Rivers State, taking them to an unknown destination.
Confirming the incident to newsmen, the Youths and
Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) said the attack occurred over the
weekend and was reported by members of its One Million Youth Volunteers Network
of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters in the Bille community area.
Executive Director of YEAC, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface,
said the victims were traveling by boat from Port Harcourt to Bille Kingdom in
Degema Local Government Area when the attack occurred. The pirates, reportedly
armed and operating a speedboat equipped with a 200HP engine, intercepted the
passenger boat and abducted five individuals.
“As of
Monday morning, when the incident was reported to our centre, the whereabouts
of the kidnapped passengers remained unknown,” Dr. Fyneface said
The organization has called on the Rivers State Police
Command and other relevant security agencies to act swiftly to secure the safe
release of the abducted passengers. It also urged Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas
(rtd), Sole Administrator of the state, to prioritize security and the
protection of lives and property along the waterways.
Confirming the incident to LIB, the spokesperson of the
Rivers state police command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said
‘’Yes, the
incident did occur. The Commissioner of Police has mandated the
Officer-in-Charge of the Marine Unit, along with his team and the Tactical Team
Commander, to ensure that the victims are rescued unharmed and that the
perpetrators of this heinous crime are apprehended and brought to justice.''
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