Source: CollPress
Commercial transport boat operators and passengers have decried rising cases of armed attacks by pirates following Friday’s incident that killed three people.

Bayelsa Police Command had confirmed the death of three passengers in a boat along Nembe-Brass waterways in Bayelsa on Friday.

A boat sailor, Johnson Kenebai said on Tuesday the Maritime workers Union had convened an emergency meeting to review the situation.

“The menace by sea pirates has threatened the marine transport sector and most times the boat drivers are the prime targets before the passengers, the last time in May this year it was three Dutch Nationals and there were three more kidnap incidents in June.

“The frequency is just too much and we cannot continue this way, we are considering all options including withdrawing from the waters for the time being.

“The patronage has dropped because people no longer travel frequently to the coastal areas for fear of pirates, this is a threat to our business,” Kenebai said.

The Bayelsa government had earlier established a marine component of the state’s special security outfit christened ‘Doo Akpor’ and deployed to the waterways and creeks to ward off the pirates.

The marine security team currently escorts passenger and market boats from Twon Brass to Yenagoa.

It was gathered that due to the shortage of logistics and personnel, the state security outfit is unable to provide such escorts to other coastal settlements in Bayelsa.

Mr Morris Alagoa, an Environmentalist who frequently navigates the creeks in Bayelsa described the situation as sad and disturbing and capable of scaring away potential investors.

“The activities of these pirates pose dangers to travelers and transporters especially in Southern Ijaw, Nembe and Brass Local Government Areas of the state.

“As an environmental activist working for a grassroots organization which involves frequent sailing in the creeks I often get restricted to travel as I should.

“During one of my trips last Friday, I saw that ‘Doo Akpor’ was escorting market boats at some locations, the JTF also escorts passenger boats leaving Twon Brass to safe zones before returning.

“These efforts are highly commendable and should be extended to other communities in Bayelsa, funds, equipment and men should be mobilized to smoke out the pirates from their unholy dens.

“The negative impact of these pirates attacks takes a toll on the growing tourism sectors in Bayelsa and the foreign investment drive of the government so it is imperative for government to make every part of the state safe,” Alagoa said