There was pandemonium yesterday along the Bonny River close to the popular fishing settlement, Dutch Island in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State, which is about five nautical miles from the Federal Ocean Terminal, Onne in Eleme Local Government Area, also of Rivers State, when a yet-to-be-identified military helicopter allegedly opened fire at unarmed civilians in a local wooden cargo boat sailing with goods, mainly foodstuffs and drinks from Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, to Bonny in Bonny LGA of the State. The passengers in the boat are mainly the pilot and his deckhands who are responsible for loading and unloading the boat at both the Port Harcourt and Bonny ends.
Kristina Reports Security Correspondent, Susan Pepple was at the Coal Beach, Bonny when one of the victims of the attack, who identified himself as Awwal Rufai, a marine technician specialized in fixing outboard engines, arrived from Okrika where he was rushed to for treatment after the attack. He gave some glimpses of what transpired out there at sea. Enjoy the read!
What happened?
Normally, we leave Port Harcourt by 10am. On our way coming back, getting to Dutch Island our engine stopped. We called for a new engine, a new engine was sent to us and we received it at 1pm. Between 1:30 and 2pm a chopper was seen around that area, it came around the first time, went back, came back again the second time and left. The third time it came around, it dropped a rope from the chopper and a personnel was seen coming down from the chopper into the boat and later went back up, next thing they opened fire and started shooting at us.
How many of you were in the boat?
Just five of us, myself, Awal Rufai, Paul Jacob and the boat pilot, Abdul Hadi. This is the only three I can l say for now, I will let u know the rest two as soon as possible.
Was there any loss of life?
No, it was just me and one other person that was affected, he got shot on the knee while I got shot on my middle figure.
What was in the boat? Food stuffs, like garri, beans, rice, drinks, sugarcane. Just food stuff, it is a market boat.
👌
👌