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By Mandy Willy
The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of five Bille indigenes by pirates along the New Calabar River.
The incident reportedly occurred on Friday, April 4, 2025, as the boat was en route to Port Harcourt.
The Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, who made the confirmation to our correspondent, said the Commissioner of Police has mandated the officer-in-charge of the Marine Unit, along with his team and the Tactical Team commander, to ensure the victims are rescued unharmed and the perpetrators of the heinous crime are apprehended and brought to justice.
Also, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Bille Clan, has condemned the sea pirates’ attack that resulted in the abduction of five passengers aboard on a Bille-bound speedboat.
In a press statement jointly signed by Comrade Diepiriye Igani, chairman of IYC Bille Clan, and Comrade Ipalibo Joseph Sanipe, secretary, the group described the attack as “barbaric” and a “direct affront” to the safety and security of people living in the coastal communities of Rivers State.
“We express deep concern over the increasing cases of insecurity across the Bille waterways. This act is not just criminal, it is an assault on the lives and freedom of our people. It is unacceptable that in this era, our people still cannot travel safely to and from their communities.”
The IYC called on the government of Rivers State to take immediate and decisive action to facilitate the rescue of the abducted victims. They also urged the Nigerian Navy Base at Dabira to intensify patrols and surveillance across the New Calabar River, and called on the 29 Tactical Battalion of the Nigerian Army to work with other security forces and community vigilantes in launching a rescue operation.
The council appealed to Bille indigenes, youth groups, and stakeholders to remain calm and vigilant, assuring that efforts are ongoing to secure the safe return of the victims.
“Our prayers are with the kidnapped victims and their families. We will not rest until they are safely reunited with their loved ones,” the IYC stated.
Meanwhile, the Executive Director, YEAC-Nigeria, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, has condemned the rising insecurity on the waterways, noting that it has long pose as a concern for coastal communities in the Niger Delta region.
Fynface explained that report gathered by YEAC revealed the boat that was attacked by the pirates and people taken hostage were sailing from Bille to Port Harcourt.
“Six people were on board but five were taken hostage. The sixth person, an elderly woman is reported to have been sick and was heading to Port Harcourt for medical attention.
“The YEAC-Nigeria volunteers also reported that according to the woman and freed boat driver, the elderly woman pleaded with the pirates for her to be freed on her health and age grounds and the pirates heeded her request and freed her and the boat driver.
“The pirates are said to have freed the boat driver to take the woman to Port Harcourt while they evacuated five others into their own boat and zoomed off with them.
“All the passengers onboard including the driver are all natives of Bille Kingdom. Until this moment, no report of their freedom yet,” he stated.
