Pirates attack, hijack two passenger boats in Rivers

PASSENGERS and seafarers along the Port Harcourt-Abonnema-Kula route in Rivers State have been thrown into panic following recent hijack of two boats on the route by pirates.

It was reported that one of the passengers inside the two boats, a woman, was thrown into the River by the pirates, but she was later rescued.

As was learnt, the passengers were travelling from Abonema to Kula, both in the Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of the state, when the pirates attacked their boats in the middle of the sea.

Officials of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) in the area confirmed the hijack of the two boats to newsmen

The officials said the boats were each carrying 12 passengers, most of who jumped into the River in a bid to escape abduction following the attack by the pirates.

Also, MWUN chairman in Rivers State, Israel Pepple, expressed worry that attacks along the waterways have resurfaced after a noticeable calm.