Stakeholders under the auspices of Concerned Citizens of Bonny have raised the alarm over the increasing pirate attacks and kidnappings along the Bonny waterway in Rivers State.
The stakeholders lamented that five persons were abducted on August 21 followed by another incident involving a speedboat passengers on August 24.
President of the group, Amasenibo Stephen Hart, who spoke in Port Harcourt Monday expressed concerns over the safety of travellers on the Bonny sea route because of the activities of pirates.
He said: “We, the concerned citizens of Bonny, are worried and terrified about the ongoing abduction of travellers by sea pirates along the Bonny waterway.
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“In the past few months, more than fifteen people have been kidnapped, with some victims already released and others still in captivity awaiting ransom payment for their release.”
Hart criticised the Nigerian Navy for failing to provide sufficient protection for travellers and called for stronger security measures, especially around the Onne axis of the river.
He called for a thorough investigation into certain boat drivers suspected to be collaborating with sea pirates to abduct and rob passengers.
The group strongly condemned the actions of the pirates and urged security agencies to take decisive action to safeguard the lives and property of travellers.
Hart said: “As a group, we strongly condemn the act and believe that the security agencies, especially the Nigerian Navy, have not done enough to protect the lives and property of travellers, which is their duty.
“We also want to use this platform to call on the security agencies to investigate certain boat riders who are suspected of collaborating with sea pirates to cause chaos on the waterway.”