Suspected pirates attack passenger boats, abduct 64-yr-old chief, 6 others
On
By Samuel Oyadongha & Emem Idio
A 64-year-old chief and three others have been abducted by suspected pirates terrorising the people of the coastal area of Nembe, Brass and Akassa in Nembe and Brass Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State.
The development, it was gathered, has forced maritime workers to down tools in the troubled axis, leaving commuters stranded.
The state Chairman of Nigerian Maritime Union, Ogoniba Ibingansi, confirmed on phone that the waterways are no longer safe and all boats operating along Odioma, Akassa, Brass and Nembe are no longer loading with passengers told to stay away.
Pirates abduct six passengers on Bayelsa waterways
The police in Bayelsa State appeal for useful information from the public that could lead to the arrest of the kidnappers.
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The Commissioner of Police in Bayelsa State, Mike Okoli, has ordered a manhunt for kidnappers who attacked speedboats and abducted passengers on the Okpoma/Odioma and Nembe/Brass waterways, Tuesday.
The two incidents occurred simultaneously and six passengers were allegedly kidnapped by gunmen suspected to be pirates.
The police spokesperson in Bayelsa State, Butswat Asinim, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday.
Mr Asinim, a superintendent of police, said a joint operation: operatives from the Marine Police, Navy and Joint Task Force ‘Operation Delta Safe’ are combing the creeks to rescue the kidnapped victims and apprehend the kidnappers.
…CP orders manhunt for the kidnappers
By Samuel Oyadongha & Emem Idio, Yenagoa
Fear has heightened among indigenes of the coastal area of Nembe, Brass and Akassa in Nembe and Brass Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State as suspected sea pirates terrorise commercial boats and abduction of a 64year old chief and three others.
The development, it was learned, has forced maritime workers to down tools in the troubled axis.
The State Chairman of the Nigerian Maritime Union, Comrade Ogoniba Ibingansi confirmed on the telephone that the waterways are no longer safe and all boats operating along Odioma, Akassa, Brass and Nembe are no longer loading with passengers told to stay away.
Unknown gunmen suspected to be oil thieves have killed a soldier and made away with his weapon in Apoi Community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
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SAMPSON ITODE
A resident in Rivers State, Diepriye Joe, is disturbed by the persistent impure carbon particles fouling the air in the state. This is particularly because she feared that the polluted air could infect her with lung infection.
Joe, who resides in Buguma town in the Asari-Toru Local Government Area of the state, lamented that soot had worsened an already bad ecological situation in the area,
She said, “The soot is enormous here. We have been managing water pollution for a long time in this area. We no longer drink well water because of the petrol-like substance in it and now the air too is polluted. Where are we going to live with our children? I don’t know which part of the state that is safe now.