Pirates abduct passengers along Port Harcourt-Bille waterway

At least five passengers have been abducted by suspected pirates along the Port Harcourt-Bille water route in Rivers State, reigniting concerns over the safety of Nigeria’s inland waterways.

The attack, which occurred over the weekend, involved a passenger boat intercepted by armed assailants who forcefully took the victims to an undisclosed location. The identities of the abducted individuals have not yet been made public.

In a statement released on Monday, the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) confirmed the incident and condemned the alarming rise in piracy within the region. The group urged security agencies to take immediate and decisive action to secure the waterways and protect travelers.

According to the organisation, the attack was brought to light by members of its One Million Youth Volunteers Network of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters based in the Bille community.

Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, the Executive Director of YEAC, disclosed that the victims were en route from Port Harcourt to Bille Kingdom in Degema Local Government Area when the pirates struck.

The attackers, reportedly navigating a speedboat fitted with a 200-horsepower engine, intercepted the passenger vessel and abducted five individuals during the assault.

“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.

Efforts to reach the Rivers State Police Command for confirmation were unsuccessful, as calls to the Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, went unanswered.