Maritime
Boat Drivers To Partner Security Agencies To Curb Piracy
Worried by the incessant pirate attacks on passengers and boat drivers along Port Harcourt/Bonny waterways in Rivers State, boat drivers plying the route have volunteered to partner security agents to curb the menace.
The drivers said their collaboration with the security agents would assist in fishing out the sea robbers along the route and make the creek safe for travellers.
Speaking to The Tide on the activities of the pirates along the Port Harcourt/Bonny waterways, on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, Mr.Jack Wokoma, a boat driver, said pirates had caused untold hardship to boat travellers in the area.
He said the pirates on regular basis robbed and carted away valuables and cash belonging to passengers and sometime abducted and raped innocent women travelling to the Island.
Wokoma said the route had recorded high rate of sea pirates over the months as passengers and drivers are now scared of plying the waterways.
“The insecurity along the route had frustrated some of our members and passengers from plying the route on daily basis as we are killed, abducted , raped and robbed of our belongings without any being arrested by the marine police or the Nigerian Navy.
“If the boat drivers are involved in securing the route, it would go a long way at reducing the act of piracy experienced at the Bonny channels and would help curb the insecurity along the waterways”, he said.
On the deployment of gunboats by the Rivets State Government to check the menace, Wokoma said such singular act can not tackle insecurity along the route,
According to him, the gunboats can not go to the creeks to fish out the hoodlums without the assistance of the drivers who know their hideouts.
“Our collaboration with the security agencies would help the Navy in positioning the gunboats in strategic areas to confront the robbers”, he said.
He appealed to the state government to deploy the men of the Nigerian Navy and Marine police to Port Harcourt/Bonny waterways to check the frequent attacks on sea travellers.
Wokoma, who regretted the degree of harm caused by the criminals to travellers, noted that the criminal act had reduced socio-economic activities in the locality.
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