Save us from sea pirates’ attacks, Bayelsa communities beg

Residents of some communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have appealed to the security agencies to rescue them from incessant attacks by sea pirates on their waterways.

They lament that the hoodlums, who had held their communities hostage, had created an atmosphere of fear and trepidation.

They feared that if nothing was done quickly to address the problems, the communities’ means of livelihood would be severely affected as their people were prevented from fishing, farming and other activities.

One of the prominent leaders of the community and a former militant leader, Reuben Wilson, popularly known as ‘General’ Pastor Reuben, has expressed concerns over the incessant cases of sea robberies along the waterways of Southern Ijaw communities, particularly the Koluama area.

Reuben, who is also the National Coordinator, Leadership, Peace and Cultural Development Initiative, said in a statement in Yenagoa on Saturday that the communities had petitioned the security agencies severally over the matter.

He stated that the continuous attacks had crippled fishing activities, transportation along the waterways as well as stopped community heads from meetings in their domain.

He said the attacks had become unbearable, noting that if the relevant authorities failed to address the situation, it might result in bloody clashes between angry youths of affected communities and the sea pirates.

He lamented the hardship and pains being inflicted on the people, saying the development had created an atmosphere of fear in the area.

Reuben said, “Our people are gripped with fear over the presence of the arms-bearing sea robbers, dispossessing indigenes and residents of their cash and valuables on a daily basis.

“Five engine boats are stolen daily by these hoodlums and they have stopped fishermen from going into expedition because of fear of being attacked and killed .

“The most worrisome is that  traditional rulers in the affected communities have abandoned their traditional role of deliberating over the affairs of their people for fear of being robbed, kidnapped or killed along the waterways by the hoodlums.”

Reuben called on the security agencies to wade into the matter before the situation got out hand as well as preventing a possible bloody confrontation between the sea pirates and the angry people of affected communities.

Efforts to confirm the development from the spokesman of Bayelsa State Police Command, Asinim Butswat, proved abortive, as calls to his mobile number indicated it was “not reachable.”