Pirates kidnap ten passengers along Bonny waterways, Rivers

Gunmen suspected to be pirates kidnapped about 10 passengers along the Bonny waterways in Rivers State.

The boat was said to be travelling from Bonny to Port Harcourt about 10am when it came under attack by the sea robbers.

The state Chairman, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Rivers Commercial District, Israel Pepple, confirmed the incident in Port Harcourt.

Pepple said the abducted boat passengers were travelling from Bonny Island to Port Harcourt when the suspected pirates abducted them.

He said the incident had been reported to the police and called on the government and security agencies to beef up security along waterways to prevent incessant attacks.

Pepple said: “Ten persons have been kidnapped while travelling from Bonny to Port Harcourt. And the others are still afloat in the River waiting for rescue.

“I said let me just draw the attention of the Rivers State Governor, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly and the Commissioner of Police that we visited last week that this is what has happened this morning again .”

The incident occured few days after the maritime union members protested to the Government House over incessant attacks on the waterways.

The spokesperson of the State Police Command, Superintendent of Police Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident, saying an investigation was ongoing to rescue the captives.