Nigerians have been called upon to hold the Military accountable for breaches of operational protocols that endanger the lives and properties of citizens in its various theaters of operation.

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) made this call in reaction to a recent attack on a local cargo boat, popularly called ‘Cotonou Boat’, along the Bonny River by a combat helicopter belonging to the Nigerian Military.

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The wooden boat powered by an outboard engine was conveying goods such as foodstuffs, building materials, drinks, eggs, coffins, and paints, amongst others from the Nembe/Bonny/Bille jetty by Creek Road in Port Harcourt to Bonny Island.   

A former South-South Zonal Vice President of the MWUN, Harry Waite, who made this call in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt on Monday, August 30, 2021, condemned the attack by the Military on civilian passengers in the cargo boat, which he described as “unlawful”, “unnecessary”, and “unacceptable”.

Waite regretted that instead of chasing sea pirates that were terrorizing the waterways, the military helicopter chose to shoot at a cargo boat conveying unarmed passengers who were on legitimate duty.

“The passengers were doing their lawful duty when the military helicopter opened fire at them, killing and injuring the occupants.”  

He challenged the Military to redeem its image by going after Boko Haram insurgents, rampaging bandits and daredevil kidnappers of school children in the North and desist from shooting at innocent passengers and drivers travelling to Bonny Island for their legitimate business.

“Where are these military helicopters when the Boko Haram were killing and terrorizing the North, killing soldiers and civilians? Where are the helicopters when the bandits were abducting innocent school children and killing farmers in the North East?”

The Defence Headquarters, in a midnight statement on Sunday, August 29, 2021, claimed responsibility for the attack by one of its combat helicopters on a local cargo boat, saying that the boat was suspected to be conveying “illegally refined oil products”.

A statement signed by the Director of Defence Information, Major Gen. Benjamin Sawyerr, and posted on the verified Facebook page of the Defence Headquarters Nigeria by 11:49pm on Sunday, August 29, 2021, claimed that the crew of the ‘Cotonou Boat’, which was being escorted by two speedboats, attacked the helicopter which had to return fire and ‘neutralize’ the boat.

It further informed that the helicopter was deployed to provide close air support for ground troops engaged in clearance operations in the Cawthorne Channel, which is more than 20 nautical miles from the incident area, thus casting doubts on the account by Military.

Two persons were injured in the attack and ferried by outboard engine powered speedboats that came to their rescue to a medical facility in Okrika where they received treatment.

The supposedly ‘neutralized’ boat was later berthed at about 10pm at the Coal Beach, Bonny and was detained across the night with its cargo until morning by security personnel at the beach.   

Harry Waite called for a probe into the circumstances of the attack on the passengers with a view to getting justice for the victims, maintaining that “we must not fold our hands and watch, until justice is prevailed on these innocent passengers”.