Gunmen suspected to be pirates on Thursday, 6 February, 2025 abducted at least 13 passengers out 20 travelling along Bonny-Okrika waterways in Rivers State .
Also, the Bonny Local Government Council had earlier announced that it rescued a total of nine passengers while effort to rescue the 13 passengers on the hijacked boat is ongoing.
Chairman of LG council, Anengi Claude-Wilcox, who confirmed the development, said leaders in the area are working with security agencies to rescue the passengers.
The council boss also stated that the boat driver allegedly passed through kilometre 10, which is a prohibited channel for commercial purposes.
Claude-Wilcox said in a statement on Friday, 7 february, 2025 said, “It should be noted that nine persons have been found and returned to Port Harcourt through the timely intervention of government security operatives who are currently up and about and have intensified efforts to rescue the remaining 12 passengers.
“It should be noted that preliminary findings reveal that the Boat Driver disobeyed the rules and passed through Kilometer 10, a prohibited channel for commercial Boat Drivers,” the statement said.
In addition, the victims’ relatives and the public have been urged to remain clam as efforts are being made to address the situation
