The people of Akuku- Toru were in great shock and state of dismay as suspected pirates attacked a passenger boat at the Soku Abonema waterways. Soku Abonema is in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of River State.
The boat is said to have been heading for Suko from Abonema when the incident occurred. Although the total number of passengers on the boat could not be established, it is however, maintained that the pirates had ferried them along the mangrove thus dropping them along the waterways, as they speed off with the boat.
Confirming the incident, Mr. Israel Pepple who is the Chairman of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria Rivers State Chapter revealed that the incessant attacks on the waterways, were quite alarming calling for a state of emergency as this attacks has left the people of Akuku- Toru,Soku, Asari, Toru with deep fear.
He further pointed out that it was quite disheartening
realizing that the extra constitutional agencies saddled with the
responsibility of protecting the waterways were without sophisticated
machineries to carrying out their assigned duty and responsibility. This he
called on the government of Rivers State to look into the issue of attacks by
pirates on the waterways.