Boat operators decry attacks by pirates

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Travellers and Boat Operators plying the Port Harcourt-Bonny Sea routes have raised the alarm over what they termed continued attacks by sea pirates who maim,rob and kill passengers on the waterways.

The grave concern of Travellers on that route as been echoed by the Chairman of Bonny Maritime Transporters Association Maxwell Hart.

Maxwell Hart raised the concern on behalf of Travellers and Boat Operators when they paid a courtesy visit to the commissioner of Local Government Affairs Rodaford Longjohn.

Hart said the boat operators be forced to go on strike if the attacks continue.

In his response, the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, ROdaford said the Governor has purchased some gunboats to curb sea piracy and called on boat operators to screen would be passengers, before embarking on any journey.

Still on the issue, the member representing Bonny Constituency in the Rivers state House of Assembly ABinye PEpple said a Bill will be presented to the House when passed into law will treat the problem of sea piracy as a matter of p urgency.

He decried a situation where Seafarers are constantly under attack by sea pirates hindering economic and social activities in the coastal communities.