Pirates strike again in Bayelsa waterways, abduct local chiefs

Barely three weeks after pirates killed 4 soldiers and one policeman at a military base in Nembe, sea pirates on Wednesday afternoon ambushed two speedboats and kidnapped three persons along the Ogbia-Brass waterways of Bayelsa East senatorial district.

Police spokesperson, Asinim Butswat, confirmed the development but said he was yet to get details.

A security source said two Okpoama chiefs where abducted, and identified them as Blessing Wagio and Isaac Akono-Igolo.

The victims’ boats were said to have left the Ogbia water front at about 2pm for Brass when they came under attack around Kiberibio area of the Ogbia-Brass waterway, an area notorious for sea pirates attacks.

A supervisor with the state ministry of education heading to Brass for Thursday’s First School Leaving Certificate examination, a naval officer and a former Chief Librarian in the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Jigekuma Ombu-Kieri, were said to have escaped unhurt.

A witness in one of the boats, Kilete Arum, told our correspondent that she saw an unidentified man lying face down in the pirates’ speedboat when they were being dispossessed of their valuables.