…Soldier-victim still missing
From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Nineteen passengers including eight West African Examination Council (WAEC) candidates kidnapped by pirates in Rivers State recently, have been freed.
The passengers, including a military personnel, totalling 20 people onboard, were travelling from Port Harcourt to Bille sea route on May 6, 2025, when the gunmen struck and took them away to an unknown destination where they spent about 20 days in captivity.
The List of the rescued victims and their states are: Benjamin Jumodiema,Bille, Rivers; Excel Agama Bayelsa; Mpakaboari Godson Ogunga,Bille, Rivers; Glad Orlu,Bille; Prince Douglas , Abia;
Augustine Sylvanus,Degema, Rivers; Yahaya Ali, Sokoto; Ali Sale Tiga,Nasarawa; Luke Malachi Andoni, Rivers and Jones Saliu, Adamawa.
Others are: Ayi Sylvanus, Bayelsa; Samuel Green Bonny, Rivers; God is Alive Moses, Andoni, Rivers; God’s Love David, Andoni, Rivers; Ruth Samuel Okrika, Rivers; Hannah Samuel,Bille, Rivers; Mary Christopher,Akwa Ibom; Otokini Ateme, Bille, Rivers and Haruna Bala,Benue.
Community sources said the victims were freed by a local security outfit operating along the Kalabari axis on Monday.
Daily Sun gathered that soldier onboard,Lance Corporal Salisu Ibrahim is still missing.
Ibrahim’s uniform and identity card were said to have been recovered by local divers.
A suspect, Victor Friday, from Akwa Ibom State, was arrested by the local security outfit.
He allegedly confessed that one Kentebe from Bayelsa state, who is now at large, is their leader.
Penultimate Monday, Bille people, took to the streets of Port Harcourt, to protest the recurring sea pirate attacks ,particularly along the Port Harcourt-Bille route.
During the protest, they appealed to Rivers state government and security agencies to come to their aid because of the rising cases of attacks along the same Port Harcourt-Bille sea route.
The protesters decried hardship they have been passing through as a result of the activities of sea pirates, which have worsened the economy of the coastal community and threatened their existence.