Maritime workers confirm Kidnap of 5 members by pirates in Rivers

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has confirmed that sea pirates on Monday evening,  hijacked a passenger boat en-route to Port Harcourt from Kula with eight seafarers onboard.

The Seamen NIWA and Water Transport Workers District of the Union disclosed that five of the unit’s executives members and three others were kidnapped on their way to for a meeting

Rivers State District Chairman, Comrade Jonah Jumbo, who confirmed the incident to the media Tuesday, said the passengers were kidnapped along the coastal Kula-Abonema waterway.

Jumbo said that of the eight kidnapped persons, five are members of the maritime union in Kula, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of the state, who were on their way to Port Harcourt for a meeting.

He appealed to the perpetrators to release the victims unconditionally, even as he urged the state government and security agencies to intervene immediately.

“The Kula unit and Abonnema unit of Maritime Workers Union were asked to come for a meeting in the state office here in Port Harcourt (on Monday).

“On their way from Kula, we got a complaint (report) that the officials who were coming for the meeting were kidnapped.

“All the passengers were kidnapped, including three others in the boat. Up till now, nobody has heard anything from the kidnappers.

“So, we are appealing to the general public, the government and security agencies to really help us and see how they can reach the kidnappers”.

When contacted by newsmen, spokesperson of Rivers State Police Command, SP Nnamdi Omoni, said he was yet to be briefed on the kidnap.

Sea pirates heading for operation