By Citizenship Daily
The House of Representatives on Tuesday called for the immediate release of 18 passengers, including women and children who were abducted on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, while traveling by boat along the Bille and Bonny waterways in Rivers State.
It also called on the Inspector General of Police to deploy the newly donated gunboats to the affected areas to aid in the rescue operation and deter further attacks.
Furthermore, the House mandated the House Committees on Navy and Police to ensure full compliance with these resolutions within four weeks. The lawmakers are also pushing for permanent deployment of security houseboats and personnel to be stationed at strategic points along the volatile waterways.
Recall that the attack, which also saw the hijacking of goods worth millions of naira, has sparked outrage and renewed calls for urgent government intervention.
The victims were en route to Bille and Bonny Kingdoms — two coastal communities entirely dependent on water transport — when their boats were ambushed by armed sea pirates.
Moving the motion during plenary in Abuja, Rep. Hart Cyril Godwin described the incident as not only a humanitarian crisis but a blow to the local economy.
“This is not an isolated case. We must remember that on March 26, 2025, a similar attack occurred where six passengers were abducted. One of them was later killed — even after the ransom was paid. This is becoming a disturbing pattern.
He warned that repeated attacks along the Bille-Bonny corridor threaten the very lifeline of the region. “When the waterways are no longer safe, it means the total shutdown of economic and social activities for the people who rely solely on them,” he added.
“We cannot continue to live like this, our people are being kidnapped and killed. Our markets are empty because our goods are stolen. We need protection”, he said.
