Pirates Attack Passenger Boats in Bayelsa

Armed pirates, during the weekend, reportedly terrorized passenger boats on the Nembe Creek in the Bayelsa East senatorial district, dispossessing them of their cash and belongings. The attack, it was learnt, occurred along the Sabatoru-Igweta-Iwoama-Nembe route between 4pm and 5pm. No fewer than 10 passenger boats were raided by the hoodlums who carted away some of the engines leaving their victims stranded. The Nembe-Brass waterways in the East senatorial district, it was learnt, had become vulnerable to pirate attacks, which had worsened the plight of commuters to the coastal enclave. Though no live was lost in the incident, itwas gathered that the victims who sailedfrom the Ogbia jetty were travelling to Nembe for a burial ceremony when they were attacked some nautical miles from their destination. Sources told Vanguard that the hoodlums poured fuel on some of their victims threatening to set them ablaze ostensibly to force them to part with their valuables. Attempts to get the comment of the statePolice Command Public Relations Officer, Mr. Alex Akhigbe, proved abortive as his line was not going through. VANGUARD