Pirates kill two, injure several others in Rivers

Sea pirates have killed two persons and injured several others in an attack on seven boats travelling from Bille, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, to Port Harcourt.

The seven boats were said to be travelling in a convoy on Saturday to Port Harcourt for a church programme when the hoodlums attacked them.

The Guardian gathered that the pirates operated freely for about five hours on the high sea without restrictions.

It was learnt that the bandits carted away all the belongings of the travellers, took their boats and abandoned them at the mangrove.

The two persons killed were said, to be on their way to rescue the stranded passengers from the mangrove when the gunmen sighted them and shot them dead on the spot.

The Bile Community Trust Chairman of Degema 1 cluster board, George Ogunga, who confirmed the incident to The Guardian said, attacks on passengers by pirates have become frequent.

“Pirates killed two persons during an attack,” Ogunga said. “One Mr. Owunari Biri, who was in his early 20s and one Dumo Horseful, who was in his 30s were shot dead by the hoodlums.”

“They were going to rescue the stranded victims who were dumped at the mangrove by the pirates who carted away with their boats and belonging when the hoodlums saw them and shot them dead. Horseful is the only son of his family.”

The Community chairman lamented that the few military personnel post in the area turn blind eyes during such incidents.

Asked about the security boats recently donated and commissioned by the State government to safeguard the waterways of Bille and the residents, Ogunga said, “no single security boat has been sighted on the Bille waterways since the said donation by the state government.”