Navy rescues 20 passengers after pirate attack in Rivers

The latest incident follows a recent wave of pirate attacks along the waterways.

Bonny, Nigeria – The Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (NNFOB) in Bonny, Rivers State, has successfully rescued 20 passengers, including women and children, following a pirate attack on the Port Harcourt-Bonny shipping route.

The Commander of the NNFOB, Maksum Mohammed, disclosed the incident to journalists on Monday. He revealed that the navy had discovered a new tactic used by the pirates in collaboration with some boat operators to kidnap travellers.

According to Mohammed, intelligence reports indicate that some boat operators fake engine problems at strategic points along the shipping route, allowing pirates to swoop in and abduct passengers.

In the most recent incident, a boat carrying 20 passengers, including infants, was targeted. Commander Mohammed said the boat’s engine was apparently faulty, a situation that could have turned into a tragedy had the Navy not intervened.

“This is a clear case of deliberately endangering the safety of passengers,” Mohammed said. “Why would any sensible sailor take passengers on a boat whose engines were totally faulty and unable to sustain an hour’s journey? Criminals could have easily attacked and kidnapped them, given their vulnerability.”

He also noted that the Navy had observed suspicious activity by the same vessel at two different locations known to be the scene of pirate attacks, raising concerns about possible collusion. “We encountered the same vessel again, simulating another engine failure in a high-risk area. That’s when we decided to evacuate the passengers to our vessels and continue their journey safely,” he added.

Commander Mohammed urged the Rivers State Government and local authorities to consider deploying ferries on the Bonny-Port Harcourt route as a safer and more sustainable means of transport.

The latest incident follows a series of pirate attacks along the waterways. Last week, 10 passengers kidnapped on the same route were freed after four days in captivity.

In response to the growing insecurity, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, led by the Port Harcourt Commercial District Chairman, Israel Pepple, staged a protest outside the government house, calling for enhanced security measures to protect passengers and boat operators.