Sea Pirates operating on the Bayelsa waterways have kidnapped eight commercial speed boat passengers.
The spokesman for the Bayelsa State Police Command, Asinim Butswat, confirmed the attack on the speedboat.
According to him, seven passengers were kidnapped by the bandits, adding that investigation had started.
“The passenger boat was attacked on the 13 June 2022 and seven passengers were reportedly abducted. We have commenced investigation.” Butswat said.
The Network gathered that the eight passengers were among 15 other passengers that were travelling from Brass to Yenagoa when the speedboat in which they were traveling with was double-crossed by the Sea bandits.
The unit chairman of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), in the Brass Local Government Area, Daniel Biodoumoye, who also confirmed the incident, said the passengers were on their way back from burial ceremony at Egweama in the Brass LGA, before the unfortunate incident.
“They (the pirates) intercepted the 200-horsepower engine boat close to a rice farm and fled off with eight of the 15 passengers.” Biodoumoye said.
Biodoumoye said the combined team of marine police, union leadership and others put a hot chase against the alleged pirates to rescue the victims but in the process, the bandits abandoned seven and fled with eight passengers.
The regent of Egwe-Ibe, Chief Timipre Saka-Yabi, has condemned the kidnap incident and demands the unconditional release of his subjects.
