By Prosper Meneย
Suspected pirates launched a brazen attack on a passenger boat along the Lobia/Foropa waterways in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, kidnapping four market women and robbing others of cash and valuables. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, has sparked outrage and renewed calls for enhanced security on the stateโs waterways.
According to reports, the boat, carrying 12 women, had just departed from the jetty at the Swali Ultra-Modern Market in Yenagoa, en route to interior markets, when the gunmen struck. The assailants, armed and operating with speed, intercepted the vessel minutes after it set sail, seizing four passengers and taking them to an unknown location. The remaining women were stripped of their money, goods, and personal belongings, leaving them traumatized.
A community source, confirmed the attack occurred shortly after the boat left the Swali waterfront. โThe gunmen were swift. They took four women and looted everything the others had,โ the source said. The victims were part of a group of traders traveling to conduct business in remote communities, a common practice in the regionโs water-dependent economy.
Local lawmaker Hon. Victor-Ben, representing the area, condemned the attack and urged the Bayelsa State Government and security agencies, particularly the Nigeria Police Force, to act swiftly to secure the release of the abducted women. โThe residents of this region deserve safe passage for their daily commerce and transport,โ he said, calling for intensified patrols and surveillance on the waterways.
The Bayelsa State Police Command, however, has yet to receive a full briefing on the incident. ASP Musa Mohammed, the Police Public Relations Officer, told PUNCH Metro that details were still forthcoming, indicating a possible delay in official reporting.
The attack has heightened fears among traders and residents who rely on the waterways for their livelihood.
This latest incident follows a recent attack in the Swali community, where four people were killed by suspected cultists on Easter Sunday, exposing the growing insecurity in Yenagoa and its environs. Authorities are under pressure to address the rising tide of violence and ensure the safety of vulnerable communities.
Residents urge security operatives to come to their aid and maintain peace and order.
