Daniel Efe/ Port-Harcourt
The whereabouts of two women and a baby who were abducted by gunmen suspected to be Sea Pirates along the waterways of Degema in Rivers State are still unknown
They were among passengers who were in the boat attacked by Sea Pirates who ordered the passengers to jump into the River on Thursday, June 4, along the waterways of Namasibi, New Calabar Rivers, in Degema Local Government area of Rivers State.
The boat was reported to be sailing from Port Harcourt to Ke Clan in Degema when the gunmen attacked it.
The Rivers State Police Command says it has declared a manhunt for the Sea Pirates.
Eyewitnesses said during the attack, the passengers were robbed of all their personal effects, the boat was hijacked and at gunpoint, the passengers were compelled to jump into the River and later abducted some persons, who lacked swimming skills.
The Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, confirmed that 13 of the passengers were forced to jump into the River, but some were later rescued by the local Divers.
Omoni said 15 passengers were on board when the bandits struck adding two female passengers including a baby were whisked away to an unknown destination by the bandits.
Omoni said: “The Police are aware of the development at Namasibi in Degema. 15 people were on the boat when they were attacked.
“The Pirates had asked the occupants to jump into the river and 13 people who obeyed them were later rescued.
“The Pirates made away with two females and a little child. We have lunched manhunt on them. The victims will be rescued.”