The ten passengers abducted along the Bonny-Port Harcourt sea route in Rivers State have regained their freedom after their captors released them.

Kristina Reports authoritatively learnt that security operatives conveyed the released abductees back to Bonny Island on the evening of Friday, September 6, 2024 after their captors abandoned them on the approach of security operatives who were in search of them. 

A top official of the NNFOB, Bonny, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak on the matter, confirmed the development to Kristina Reports over the telephone in Bonny, Rivers State.

This position was also corroborated by a senior official of the Marine Police in Bonny, who preferred not to be named, informing that all ten persons were rescued and have rejoined their families.   

The sources further informed that the released abductees were taken the Forward Operating Base at Akiama Community in Bonny for medical evaluation, trauma counselling and debriefing before being reconciled with their respective families.

Daredevil hoodlums, who are yet-to-be-identified, snatched the abductees from an outboard powered speedboat they were traveling in about 7am on Monday, September 2, 2024 close to Dawes Island adjacent to the Federal Ocean Terminal, Onne, Eleme LGA.

The outrage that greeted the incident, being the fourth in two weeks, with over 20 persons abducted, spurred the renewed aggression against pirates’ activity along the Bonny River by a joint team of the Nigerian Navy and Marine Police.

Commanding Officer of the Forward Operating Base, Bonny, Capt. Maksum Mohammed told Kristina Reports that the onslaught against the criminals would not stop as it is actually a clearance operation to checkmate kidnap for ransom along the waterways.

According to him, the security operatives have the mandate to secure the general area, track, identify and apprehend the suspected hoodlums, and mete out maximum punishment on them.

He also informed that intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) assets are being deployed massively in this regard, assuring that respite was underway as the criminals are beign smoked out of their hideouts.  

The Bonny River is critical to Nigeria’s economy and regarded by security experts as the centrepiece of the Gulf of Guinea security corridor.

It is the main sea route from the Atlantic Ocean into Nigeria’s South-Eastern region with Bonny Island where ExxonMobil Nigeria’s Bonny River Terminal (BRT), Shell Nigeria’s Bonny Oil and Gas Terminal (BOGT), and the gas liquefaction plant and train 7 project of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) are all located as tis first seaport.

Further inland, along the Bonny River are the Federal Ocean Terminal and Federal Lighter Terminal both in Onne, Eleme LGA; Port Harcourt Harbour, Nigerian Ports Authority’s Dockyard, and the now defunct Sea School, Isaka, a prime sports facility, amongst others.

Experts say the national economic assets of Nigeria in Bonny Island alone accounts for about 4% of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) and almost 100% of Nigeria’s gas assets.

Concerned stakeholders are worried that given the premium economic value Bonny Island represents, security threats along the Bonny River is a disincentive for investors in the nation’s economy, urging the President Bola Tinubu led Federal Government to urgently intervene to halt the ugly trend.