19 Persons Kidnapped, As Pirates Hijack Three Boats In Rivers State

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Palpable fears, on   Wednesday May 7, 2025 pervaded Rivers State, as Government and Security Agencies were yet to react to the hijack of three boats and the abduction of no fewer than 19 persons by sea pirates.

This is just as the Maritime Workers Union appealed to the Rivers Sole Administrator to ensure the safety of the State’s  Waterways.

Eye witness accounts said that some gunmen dressed in Military camouflage ,on Tuesday afternoon, kidnapped 19 passengers aboard three   boats, along the Isaka River in Okirika Local Government Area of the State.

According to them, while one of the boats was headed for Bonny Island, two others were traveling to the Cawthorne Channel area in Bille, Degema Local Council when they were attacked by the hoodlums.

With the police and other  security agencies not forthcoming with information about the incident, Israel Pepple,Rivers State Chairman of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria MWUN, while confirming the attacks, on Wednesday, also informed that goods worth several millions of Naira were lost to the pirates.

He explained that about 13 persons were  involved in one of the boats, while six others together with goods were seized from another boat.

“With the information we gathered, it was 13 persons, with the driver that were involved in one boat. The other boat going to Bonny, with goods, and six persons were kidnapped, in addition to the 13, making it 19” the MWUN Chairman stated

He expressed deep concern over the nonchalant attitude of Government ,and other relevant authorities towards protecting the State waterways.

According to him, there have been incessant attacks and kidnappings along the waterways of recent, with no concrete steps on the part of the authorities to control the situation.

Pepple, who is in charge of the Port Harcourt Commercial District of the MWUN, lamented that the insecurity on the waterways has been impacting negatively on their businesses.

He warned that the Union may be forced to withdraw their services in the face of the persistent abduction of their members.

“Like we said last time, we may  have no other option than to withdraw our services because the whole thing is becoming like a routine action such that as they are releasing the victims with them, they, the pirates, will be coming for another set of people.

“It is more or less, a business for them (the pirates). So ,I think that the Union will go into a meeting, and whatever our decision is, we will implement it .

“We are most likely to down tools, if that is the only way to attract Government attention to our plight . Imagine that just between 2.00 pm and 6.00 pm three boats and 19 persons were kidnapped ,with goods  hijacked” Pepple lamented .