…Urges community surveillance, security reports on water ways.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara has assured that his administration will not compromise the security of lives and property, but make the State conducive for all law abiding citizens, and called for vigilance on the part of residents against the activities of criminal elements.
Governor Fubara gave the assurance while addressing maritime workers who staged a peaceful protest to the Government House gate, Port Harcourt on Wednesday to register their discontentment against the menace of sea pirates in coastal communities.
The Governor who was represented by the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke emphasized the need for people in the coastal communities to identify flash points, exercise due surveillance on the water ways and give intelligence reports to the government and security agencies for prompt actions.
“The security of human beings and properties are key agenda that this government has never joked with, and is willing to do everything to ensure it is provided. What you’ve done isn’t a protest but a civic responsibility that you observe something and report 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 in the State.”
The governor who condemned the activities of sea pirates in the State, hinted that some of the criminals on the water ways come from the communities and are well known but people are reluctant or simply indifferent to give information to the security agencies.
“This government does not condone bad habits, we don’t harbour criminals in our midst, every person that’s simplified, one of the things we don’t want to hear is violence. Violence is to be totally eliminated in Rivers State, government will be happy if you can give security information to security agencies to work with, security should be business of all.”
On his part, the Chairman Commercial District Water Ways, Comrade Israel Waribo Pepple disclosed that cases of sea pirate attacks and kidnapping of commuters on water ways are on the increase in recent times.
Comrade Pepple said the victims are mostly robbed and sometimes killed by the criminals, stating that on Thursday 22nd August, 2024, a boat coming from Bonny was attacked by unknown gun men, with five passengers taken to unknown destination, while on the 24th of August, workers on a boat coming from Bonny were also attacked by unknown gun men, with the passengers still held in captivity by the criminals.
He noted that most recently, at tourist beach, Port Harcourt, a boat driver, deckhand, and all passengers on board and two police escorts were kidnapped by unknown gun men with the demand of a ransom of N10m for their release, while a lady was fatally hit by bullet in a recent attack on Kula water way.
Comrade Pepple blamed the increase on cases of pirate attacks of innocent citizens on negligence of security operatives, whom he said focused on the protection of the equipment of multinational firms because of derivable benefits rather than the protection of lives of citizens.
He called on the government to intervene by providing gun boats at strategic locations, particularly at identified flash points such as, Kula, Bonny, Oyorokoto, Bakana, Okrika and Abonnema water ways, and provide financial support for affected persons and boat operators who have suffered great economic loses as a result of the notorious activities of sea pirates.