Sea pirates kidnap traditional chief, 6 others in Bayelsa

By BASSEY WILLIE, Yenagoa

A traditional chief in one of the Brass Local Government communities, identified as Chief Eriakuma Moses and 6 other travellers along Odioma waterways in Brass Local government area of Bayelsa State have been kidnapped by sea pirates.

The abducted travellers were returning from Brass Island to Nembe local government area of the state when the gunmen attacked their boats along the waterways and abducted them to the creeks.

According to some maritime workers in the state, activities of sea pirates have paralysed marine transportation in the Nembe and Brass local government areas of Bayelsa State in recent times as many maritime workers have down tool leaving passengers stranded.

They said that sea pirates have kidnapped over seven persons in the last one week, making the people to live in fear and calling on the government to beef up security in the area.

“Sea pirates have attacked local boats carrying food stuffs to and from the hinterland robbing and dispossessing travelers of their valuables, maiming and killing their victims.” They said.

A publisher of one of the community Newspapers in Bayelsa State, Atlantic Express, Chief Bomolayon Ereku told our correspondent that he could not travel to Yenagoa from his country home of Akassa due to the protests by the Maritime workers and boat owners over incessant attacks by sea pirates.

Police spokesman in Bayelsa State, SP Asinim Butswat who confirmed the incident in a statement on Wednesday, said the Commissioner of Police in the State, Mr Mike Okoli has ordered for immediate manhunt for the kidnappers who attacked speedboats and Kidnapped passengers on the Okpoma/Odioma and Nembe/ Brass waterways on February 9, 2021.

He said: “The two separate incidents occurred simultaneously and six passengers were allegedly Kidnapped by unknown gunmen suspected to be sea pirates.

“In a joint operation, operatives from the Marine Police, Navy and Joint Task Force ‘Operation Delta Safe’ are combing the creeks to rescue the kidnapped victims and apprehend the kidnappers.

“The Command appeals to the good people of Bayelsa State to remain calm and volunteer useful information to enable the security agencies fish out these hoodlums.” (Daily Trust)