By Ameachi Prosper
Suspected pirates terrorising the people of the coastal area of Nembe, Brass and Akassa in Nembe and Brass councils of Bayelsa State have allegedly abducted four persons including a 64-year-old community chief.
The development, it was gathered, has forced maritime workers to down tools in the area, leaving commuters stranded.
Meanwhile, the state Chairman of the Nigerian Maritime Union, Ogoniba Ibingansi, who lamented that the waterways are no longer safe said all boat operators along Odioma, Akassa, Brass and Nembe have withdrawn for fear of the being kidnapped or robbed.
However, a source in the area who craved anonymity said: “Pirates have been operating along the waters since last Sunday, and they attacked boat passengers on Monday evening.
“They abducted three persons, attacked another boat and kidnapped four. They used the earlier seized boat to release the first three persons.”
It was also learned that on Monday evening, along the Yenagoa-Akassa in Brass Local Government Area route, a businessman was stripped naked and taken away by the heavily armed pirates.
The rampaging sea robbers reportedly re-surfaced along Odioma Creek and attacked a boat heading to Nembe around 2 pm and took away one person. They attacked another boat heading to Brass from Nembe and abducted three persons.
Meanwhile, the state Police Commissioner, Mike Okoli, has ordered an immediate manhunt for the kidnappers.
In a statement, spokesman of the command, Asinim Butswat, said the two separate incidents occurred simultaneously and six passengers were kidnapped.
“In a joint operation, operatives from the Marine Police, Navy and Joint Task Force of 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 to fish out these hoodlums,” he said.
