BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Yenagoa — Commercial boat operations in communities on the Atlantic fringe in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have been grounded, following the recent upsurge in sea piracy in the area.

Sources from the coastal enclave told Vanguard that the situation, if not urgently tackled could lead to famine in the area, which relies on food supply through the troubled Dodo River and creeks from neighbouring Warri in Delta State and Yenagoa, the state capital.

It was gathered that boat operators in the area plying the Dodo River-Warri route were forced to withdraw their services last Thursday in the wake of the renewed onslaught on passengers and cargo boats by sea pirates.

According to sources, passenger boats plying the route from Aghoro, Agge, Ogbotobo, Letugbene and Bilabiri had repeatedly fallen prey to the hoodlums in the old Orugbene Zion axis, prompting the boat operators to pull out of the route.

A victim of the recent attack, who gave is name as Tonye John, said “some armed men came from the small adjoining creek in a passport fibre boat to disrupt our trip last Wednesday, dragged our boats into the thick mangrove and dispossessed us of our cash and other valuables.”

Some other unlucky victims it was learnt, were not only robbed of their cash and personal belongings but also had their boat engines removed and carted away by the pirates.

An indigene of the area, Chief Franklin Simon, who is also the spokesman for the Mein Cluster  Board,  lamented the sad turn of event in the area. He told Vanguard that they could  no longer travel to Warri for commerce due to the upsurge in pirates’ attacks and withdrawal of commercial boat operators from the route.