Suspected pirates have reportedly killed two people during an attack on two passenger boats in Nigeria’s coastal waters.
News Central gathered that the passengers were returning from a carnival on 5 January 2021 when they were attacked by the pirates on the coastal waters of Aru-Gbanaama and Polokiri in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The first boat was reportedly attacked when the helmsman stopped midway to remove some debris from the engine. The pirates allegedly stormed the boat, hitting the passengers with paddles and machetes. The passengers were also pushed into the waters.
Unaware of the incident, a second boat was said to have attempted to pass the area but was intercepted. The passengers in the second boat reportedly jumped into the waters themselves on seeing the injuries inflicted on occupants of the first boat.
It’s not the first time pirates have attacked boats in Rivers. In December 2020, sea pirates reportedly killed one person, abducted two and hijacked a passenger boat on the Isaka River in Okrika Council Area of Rivers State. The passengers were reportedly travelling from Port Harcourt to Bonny about at the time of the incident.
In October 2020, the people of Bille Kingdom in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State held a peaceful protest against insecurity on their Waterways. The protests came two days after suspected sea pirates attacked a boat conveying passengers to Port Harcout on Sunday, October 25.
One died in the incident while most of the passengers managed to flee into the creeks.