NIGERIA: Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has frowned at increasing attacks on boat operators and seafarers in the state by pirates.
He reaffirmed his commitment to the security of lives and property of all residents.
He gave the assurance when he received a delegation of the Rivers Commercial District of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) during their peaceful protest at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
The sailors were unhappy about the growing trend and demanded action by security operatives in the state.
The Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, who represented the governor, commended them for performing their civic obligation by reporting criminality in their places of business to the authority.
He said, “The security of human beings and their property is one agenda that the Governor has never joked with, and he is willing to do anything even for the umpteenth time, to ensure that it is provided. The Governor is interested in proper policing of our State. But, you know the community policing that you hear about; people think that it is for us to form police in communities. No.
“Every person here is a community police. Whatever you see, you report, and whatever you think that is not right, you give information to the right places. So, what you have done now is a civic responsibility, and I want to tell you that it will not be taken lightly,” he assured.
He vowed that this government would leave no stone unturned to secure the state, noting, “No right-thinking Rivers person would be happy about the wickedness of pirates on the sea routes listed.”
He told them that the criminal elements perpetrating those crimes are well-known, and live in communities among the people but nobody has been very brave enough to provide information on them to the appropriate authority that will help in their arrest.
“I don’t know the problems that may be on the waterways, but you know the flashpoints because that is the route you follow. Provide information about those flashpoints, we will do our best.
Governor Fubara said his administration is not resting on its oath to provide good governance, and infrastructure that will promote quality service delivery to every resident(s) in the State.
He said: “I want to thank God that something is being done, you may not hear all of them in the news, but just give some time, and you will find out that Rivers State will still become one of the best destinations for people to come, even for tourism”.
In his address, chairman MWUN, Rivers Commercial District, Comrade Israel Waribo Pepple, said there have been incessant piracy attacks on members of the union on the waterways, adding that their nefarious activities have given them sleepless nights and held their operations hostage.
Comrade Pepple stated that sea pirate attacks on the union’s members often lead to most of them or their passengers being taken hostage or killed while carting away personal belongings, including members’ boats.
Specifically, Comrade Pepple said: “On Thursday, August 22, 2024, a boat sailing from Bonny to Port Harcourt was attacked by unknown gunmen, who took five (5) passengers to an unknown destination.
“Bille Boat was attacked, the attackers went away with the boat and engine, with other
valuables belonging to the passengers.”
Comrade Pepple also said: “On August 24, workers’ boat coming from Bonny to Port Harcourt was attacked by unknown gunmen, and two passengers were taken away, and till date, they are still under captivity.”
“Recently, at Tourist Beach Unit, Port Harcourt, we also recorded the captivity of a driver, deckhand, and occupants in the boat with two police officers on escort.
“The unknown gunmen are demanding N10 million as ransom for their release. These and many more are taking place in other units like Okrika, Kula, Bakana, Oyorokoto, Abonnema, etc,” he emphasised.
Comrade Pepple expressed displeasure over what he described as the inability of security agencies to do the needful to protect the lives and property of law-abiding citizens operating on the sea routes.
He stated that, what they do, rather, is to focus attention mostly on Multinational Oil Companies (IOCs), their equipment and workers due to the economic advantage they derive therefrom.
Comrade Pepple said: “To this end, we call on the Governments to save the souls of our teeming members, whose means of sustenance have consistently been threatened, and have lost so much to sea pirates and men of the underworld.”
He added, “We urge the Government to ensure the release of kidnapped passengers onboard our boats recently. We also seek the provision of gun/houseboats at strategic locations for random patrol on the waterways in the State.
“Provision of financial support to the affected passengers and boat operators have suffered great loss due to the unforeseen tragedy,” he pleaded.
