Sea Pirates abduct Female Traders along Bayelsa Waterways

Suspected sea pirates on Tuesday attacked a commercial boat conveying 15 passengers along the waterways of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area in Bayelsa State, abducting three female traders in the process.

The incident occurred shortly after the boat departed from the Swali Market Jetty in Yenagoa en route to Foropa community.

According to a source familiar with the development, the armed assailants struck shortly after the boat passed Lobia community, a known transit point along the route.

Twelve of the passengers were reportedly dispossessed of their personal belongings before being released, while the remaining three, all women, were taken away by the attackers.

A local source, who requested anonymity, confirmed the incident and identified the victims as well-known petty traders who frequently plied the route for their business engagements.

Efforts to obtain an official response from the Bayelsa State Police Command proved abortive, as calls to the command’s spokesman went unanswered at the time of filing this report.