The Nigerian Navy Forward Operation Base (NNFOB) in Bonny, Rivers State, successfully rescued 20 passengers, including women and children, after thwarting a pirate attack on the Port Harcourt-Bonny sea route.
Commander of the NNFOB, Maksum Mohammed, confirmed the incident on Monday, September 16, 2024. He revealed that the Navy discovered a new tactic employed by pirates, who now collaborate with some boat operators to abduct travelers. The pirates’ strategy involves boat operators pretending to fix an engine problem, which allows pirates to attack and capture passengers while they are stranded.
Mohammed criticized the safety lapses, questioning why a boat with engine problems would carry passengers on such a dangerous route. He expressed concern over the high risks faced by passengers, who are exposed to potential kidnappings and are paying substantial amounts for unsafe travel.
The incident highlighted how pirates exploit fake engine failures to target boats at vulnerable points on the river. In this case, the Navy encountered the same boat simulating engine trouble in a known high-risk area, prompting them to evacuate the passengers onto their vessels.
Mohammed called on coastal state governments and local authorities to consider deploying ferries on the Bonny-Port Harcourt route as a safer and more reliable transportation option.
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