By Samuel Oyadongha
Yenagoa—No fever than four persons have been reported killed in Bayelsa State in the wake of renewed pirate attacks.

The tragic attack, described as the third in four weeks after a long lull in reported cases of pirate attacks in the state also left one person seriously injured.

Vanguard learnt that the incident which is now a source of serious concern to travelers in the predominantly riverine state occurred Tuesday between the Akassa-Brass-Yenagoa route in the East senatorial district.

Sources revealed that twenty-four hours earlier, some unidentified gunmen had attacked passenger and cargo boats coming from Sangana, Bekebiri and Kongho communities of Akassa and dispossessed the occupants of their valuables.

Environment Rights Action, Field Coordinator in the state, Mr. Alagoa Morris, said, “Travelers are not only apprehensive of the development, their lives are really in danger and need the protection of the government at all levels.”

The latest passenger boat to be attacked, sources said, was returning from Akassa on the Atlantic fringe to Yenagoa, the state capital, when it came under the pirates attack.
The driver of the ill-fated passenger boat was reportedly shot in the leg while trying to evade the pirates’ ambush.

The deceased persons, it was learnt, were artisans from Yenagoa who had gone to the coastal community to work and were returning to the capital city when the incident occurred.

The pirates on seizing the boat had reportedly dispossessed the occupants of their possession and ordered them and others who had nothing to give to jump into river.

While those with swimming experience swam to safety in the mangrove the artisans it was learnt got drowned.

It was further learnt that only one of the corpses had been recovered and deposited at the FMC.

Contacted the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Eguavoen Emopae (ASP) confirmed the attack but could not ascertain the casualty figure.

He said the command had commenced investigation into the matter.

Meanwhile, the group, Environment Rights Action has called on the relevant authorities to help curb the rising incidence of pirates’ attacks in the creeks and waterways of the state.

ERA’s Field Coordinator in the state, Mr. Alagoa Morris who made the appeal in Yenagoa called for intensification of police patrol of the creeks and waterways to check the activities of these criminals wasting the lives of innocent and law abiding Nigerians.