Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa
Gunmen suspected to be pirates have attacked a passenger boat laden with 14 people en route Brass Island for the New Year festivities in Bayelsa.
The incident happened while the boat was travelling from Yenagoa, the state capital, to Twon-Brass, the headquarters of the Brass Local Government Area of the state.
It was gathered that the passengers onboard were dispossessed of their valuables, including money, by the armed pirates.
The state chairman of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Mr Ogoniba Ipigansi, said the driver and the passengers were unhurt.
He added that the boat powered by a 115-horsepower outboard engine was approaching the Twon-Brass coastline when the pirates struck.
He said: “The pirates dumped the driver and the passengers in the bush and carted away the 115 horsepower Yamaha engine of the boat and other things.”
He added that a rescue team had been dispatched to the scene of the incident.
Officials of the Joint Task Force deployed to the Niger Delta declined comments when contacted for a reaction directed all enquiries to the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.