Pirates have attacked a commercial speedboat and kidnapped eight passengers on-board in Bayelsa State.
The abducted eight passengers were among 15 others travelling from Brass to Yenagoa when the speedboat was ambushed by the sea robbers on Monday.
The unit chairman of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) in the Brass Local Government Area, Daniel Biodoumoye, confirmed the incident.
He said the passengers were returning to the state capital from a burial ceremony at Egweama in the Brass LGA when the gunmen attacked their boat.
Biodoumoye said, “They (the pirates) intercepted the 200-horsepower engine boat close to a rice farm and fled off with eight of the 15 passengers.”
According to the MWUN unit chairman, a combined rescue team of marine police, union leadership and others, rescued seven passengers who were abandoned by the armed pirates.
Meanwhile, the regent of Egwe-Ibe, Chief Timipre Saka-Yabi, has condemned the kidnap incident.
He demanded the unconditional release of his subjects.
The spokesman for the Bayelsa State Police Command, Asinim Butswat, confirmed the attack on the speedboat.
He, however, said that seven passengers were kidnapped by the bandits, adding that investigation had started.
He said:”The passenger boat was attacked on the 13 June 2022 and seven passengers were reportedly abducted. We have commenced investigation.”
