Following the spate of pirate attacks and insecurity along Bonny/Bille waterways, passengers plying the route are expressing worry over the security of their lives and property.
They described the rate of abduction and killings by suspected sea robbers in the area as worrisome.
Speaking with our correspondent on the situation on Wednesday, a boat passenger, Mr Jack Power, said the incident had caused low patronage to drivers as most boat operators were forced out of business by the act.
Power called on the state government, the Nigerian Navy and the marine police to beef up security at the waterways, saying regular patrol of the channels and deployment of gunboats to the routes would reduce crime rate on the waterways. Another passenger, Mrs Benedith Koko, noted that most boat drivers and passengers were now afraid to ply the Bonny/Bille route, insisting that the Bonny waterway is no longer safe and secured for business activities.
“Most boat drivers and passengers are scared of plying the Bonny/Bille route due to pirate attacks and abduction of passengers by the hoodlums on daily basis” she said.
She also said that piracy along the Bonny waterway had crippled socio-economic activities in Bonny Island and forced many companies and business  outfits to  close down and relocate from the area.
She appealed to the state government to come to the rescue of both drivers and passengers plying the waterways and put necessary security measures that would check piracy in the area.

Chinedu Wosu