This latest incident follows a recent spate of pirate attacks along the waterways.
Bonny, Nigeria – The Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (NNFOB) in Bonny, Rivers State, successfully rescued 20 passengers, including women and children, following a pirate attack on the Port Harcourt-Bonny sea route.
Commander of the NNFOB, Maksum Mohammed, disclosed the incident to reporters on Monday. He revealed that the Navy had uncovered a new tactic employed by pirates in collaboration with some boat operators to abduct travellers.
According to Mohammed, intelligence reports indicated that certain boat operators feign engine problems at strategic points on the sea route, allowing pirates to swoop in and abduct passengers.
In the most recent incident, a boat carrying 20 passengers, including infants, was targeted. Commander Mohammed explained that the boat’s engine was reportedly faulty, a situation that nearly turned fatal had the Navy not intervened.
“This is a clear case of wilful endangerment of passenger safety,” Mohammed stated. “Why would any mariner in his right senses sail with passengers on board a boat whose engines were outright faulty and unable to sustain an hour’s journey? Criminals could have easily attacked and kidnapped them, given the vulnerability.”
He further noted that the Navy had observed suspicious activity from the same boat at two separate locations known for pirate attacks, raising concerns about a possible collusion. “We encountered the same boat again, simulating another engine failure in a high-risk area. It was at that point we decided to evacuate the passengers onto our boats and continue their journey safely,” he added.
Commander Mohammed urged the Rivers State Government and local authorities to consider deploying ferries on the Bonny-Port Harcourt route as a safer, more sustainable means of transportation.
This latest incident follows a recent spate of pirate attacks along the waterways. Last week, 10 passengers abducted on the same route were released after four days in captivity.
In response to the growing insecurity, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, led by Chairman of the Port Harcourt Commercial District, Israel Pepple, staged a protest at the Government House, calling for increased security measures to protect passengers and boat operators.
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