Suspected pirates kidnap boat passengers in Bayelsa

Gunmen on Tuesday reportedly abducted eight passengers travelling on a speedboat along the Brass-Yenagoa waterways in Bayelsa State.

The speedboat said to have carried about 15 passengers onboard, departed Egweama waterfront in Brass Local Government Area of the state before it was trapped by suspected sea pirates.

It was learnt that the victims were returning from a burial they had attended over the weekend before the incident happened.

Goldennewsng reports that a source disclosed that eight of the passengers were abducted and whisked into the creeks, while seven were freed.

At the time of filing this report, the gunmen are yet to contact the relatives of the victims.

Chairman, Maritime Workers Union in Brass Local Government Area, Mr. Daniel Biodoumoye, who confirmed the attack, said, the pirates intercepted the 200-horsepower engine boat close to a rice farm and fled with eight of the 15 passengers.

He said a combined rescue team of the marine police, members of the union, and others rescued the seven lucky passengers who were abandoned by the pirates.

The police spokesman in Bayelsa State, SP Asinim Butswat, confirmed the attack and said an investigation was ongoing to rescue the abducted victims and arrest the culprits