Insecurity: Marine Boat Operators Threaten To Down Tools

Due to insecurity on the
    waterways in recent times following the incessant attacks by sea pirates, boat operators plying Bonny, Kula, Kalabari and neighbouring Nembe and Brass in Bayelsa State have threatened to suspend their services especially during this election period.
The operators who spoke with our correspondent on telephone complained that despite several appeals, the government had not come to their aid.
They said the situation is alarming such that they risk their lives and those of their passengers everyday as the sea pirates attack them every now and then, kill, maim some of them and confiscate their properties.
According to them, they have appealed to the government to provide gun boats with sophisticated weapons and officers at strategic points of the sea routes inorder to curb the activities of these hoodlums whose acts are deadly.
“There are security men all over the roads to protect lives and property of the people but that of the sea, it is an apology, despite the fact that we are also tax paying and law abiding citizens of this country”, they fumed.
Sodienye Dappa, who plies Bonny route said, “The situation is very bad. These boys called sea pirates terrorise us every day and there are no security men to challenge them on the sea. I want the government to consider our plight and tensions and do something quickly”.
Another boat driver, Christian Isoboye that plies Port Harcourt to Bakana expressed deep sadness that the activities of sea pirates had been going on unabated despite the presence of Marine Police.
Isoboye said as the presidential elections is coming up tomorrow, he might not be willing to transport election materials and personnel to some of the riverine areas within the area, except adequate arrangement is made on security.
Bomowei Jackson of Nembe route also complained that their appeals to the government had fallen on deaf ear as they had refused to provide gun boats in the waterways.