13 Rivers boat passengers kidnapped

Policeman

The police in Rivers State have promised the arrest of suspected pirates who attacked boats and kidnapped no fewer than 13 passengers.

The incident occurred along the Isaka River in the Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.

One of the boats was reportedly en route to Bonny Island while the other was going towards the Cawthorne Channel in Bille in the Degema local government area of the state when the attack occurred on Tuesday afternoon.

Spokesperson of the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, gave this assurance while confirming the abduction, adding that investigation was ongoing.

She stated, “What we heard was that 13 passengers were abducted. But investigation is ongoing to rescue them and ensure that the perpetrators are apprehended and brought to book.”

Giving details of the incident, the Chairman, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Rivers State chapter, Port Harcourt Commercial District, Isreal Pepple added that the pirates also carted away goods and property worth millions of naira.

He said, “With the information we gathered, it was 13 persons, including the driver. The other boat was going to Bonny with goods; six people were kidnapped from that boat. So, six plus 13 makes 19.” Punch