Residents of riverine communities in Rivers State can now heave a sigh of relief as Governor Siminalayi Fubara has warned that his administration will no longer tolerate such criminality on waterways in the State.

Fubara, who frowned at the attacks on boat operators and sea travellers by pirates on sea routes in the State, issued this warning on Wednesday, August 28, 2024 during a courtesy visit by the Rivers Commercial District of the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), in Government House, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Represented by the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, the Governor reassured the commitment of his administration to the security of lives and property of all residents, indigenes and non-indigenes alike.

He stated that his administration will ensure that the people of the State can go about their genuine and productive activities without fear of molestation, noting that the State Government under his watch was aware of the plight of rural dwellers and seek immediate intervention.

He further commended them for performing their civic obligation by reporting criminality in their places of business to the authority, reiterating his administration’s commitment to ensuring proper policing of every part of the State, which is why, he explained that the Rivers State Government has placed priority on peace, security of lives and property of residents.

“The security of human beings and their property is one singular agenda of government that this Governor has never joked with, and he is willing to do anything, even for the umpteenth time, to ensure that it is provided.

“The Governor is interested in proper policing of our State. But, you know the community policing that you hear about; people think that it is for us to form police in communities. No.

“Every person here is a community police. Whatever you see, you report, and whatever you think that is not very right, you give information to the right places. So, what you have done now is a civic responsibility, and I want to tell you that it will not be taken lightly,” he assured.

“So, to me, what you have done, you call it a protest, but it is not a protest. It is a civic responsibility, showing that having observed something, you are reporting it to the appropriate quarters.

“I want to assure you that this government will not leave any stone unturned to bring security to every person that is in this State.”

Governor Fubara considered the catalog of complaints that they made and said, no right thinking Rivers person will be happy about the wickedness of pirates on the sea routes they have listed.

The Governor said the criminal elements perpetrating those crimes, are well-known, and live in communities among the people but nobody has been very brave enough to provide information on them to the appropriate authority that will help in their arrest.

Governor Fubara said: “Maybe, you are not sure that when you report, you will be safe. But you have to help the security agencies too with appropriate information.

“Bring information to government, tell us about those people. This government does not condone bad habits. We do not harbour criminals in our midst.

“I don’t know the problems that may be on the waterways, but you know the flashpoints because that is the route you follow. Provide information about those flashpoints, we will do our best.

“Every Simplified Rivers person knows that one of the things that we don’t want to hear is violence. We aim to totally destroy violence in Rivers State.”

Governor Fubara said his administration is not resting on its oars to provide good governance, and infrastructure that will promote quality service delivery to every resident(s) in the State.

“I want to thank God that something is being done, which you may not hear all of them in the news, but just give some time, you will find out that Rivers State will still become one of the best destinations for people to come, even for tourism”.

In his address, Chairman, Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Rivers Commercial District, Israel Pepple said they were in Government House, Port Harcourt to to formally draw the attention of government to their plight and seek immediate intervention.  

He informed the Governor that there have been incessant piracy attacks on members of the union on the waterways, adding that their nefarous activities have given them sleepless nights and held their operations hostage.

Pepple stated that sea pirate attacks on the union’s members often lead to most of them or their passengers taken hostage or killed while carting away personal belongings, including member’s boats.

“On Thursday, August 22, 2024, a boat sailing from Bonny to Port Harcourt was attacked by unknown gunmen, who took five passengers to an unknown destination.

“Bille Boat was attacked, the attackers went away with the boat and engine, with other valuables belonging to the passengers.”

Comrade Pepple also said: “On Auqust 24, workers’ boat coming from Bonny to Port Harcourt was attacked by unknown gunmen, and two passengers were taken away, and till date, they are still under captivity.

“Recently, at Tourist Beach Unit, Port Harcourt, we also recorded the captivity of a driver, deckhand, occupants in the boat with two police officers on escort.

“The unknown gunmen are demanding N10million as ransom for their release. These and many more are taking place in other units like Okrika, Kula, Bakana, Oyorokoto, Abonnema, etc,” he emphasised.

Pepple expressed displeasure over what he described as the inability of security agencies to do the needful to protect lives and property of law-abiding citizens operating on the sea routes.

He stated that, what they do, rather, is to focus attention mostly on Multinational Oil Companies (IOCs), their equipment and workers due to the economic advantage they derive therefrom.

“To this end, we call on the Governments to save the souls of our teeming members, whose means of sustenance have consistently been threatened, and have lost so much to sea pirates and men of the under-world.”

“We urge the Government to ensure the release of kidnapped passengers onboard our boats recently. We also seek the provision of gun/house boats at strategic locations for random patrol on the waterways in the State.

“Provision of financial support to the affected passengers and boat operators have suffered great loss due to the unforeseen tragedy,” he pleaded.