River Piracy Strikes Again: 19 Taken in Broad Daylight
It’s the kind of news that rattles anyone who depends on the rivers for daily life in southern Nigeria. On May 7, 2025, pirates stormed the busy Isaka waterways in Rivers State, pulling off two separate but coordinated attacks that left 19 people kidnapped and valuable cargo gone. What’s really shocking is how routine these terrifying ambushes are becoming for locals trying to move between river towns like Bonny Island and Bille.
According to eyewitness accounts, the first attack hit a boat with six people on their way to Bonny Island—a lifeline route for students, workers, and traders. Within hours, another group struck a vessel bound for Bille, snatching thirteen more, including the boat driver. The pirates didn’t just stop with the passengers; reports say they made off with goods worth millions of naira, stacking up losses not just in emotional trauma but also in essential cargo. With the region relying so heavily on river transport for everything from education (students on board were heading to write examinations such as WAEC) to daily trade, the impact is felt far and wide.
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria wasted no time calling out authorities. Israel Pepple, their state chairman, didn’t mince words when he slammed the glaring security lapses along the water. Here’s the kicker—military gunboats, technically there for protection, are apparently stuck at the docks because there’s no money for fuel. It’s a jaw-dropping oversight in a region known for piracy risks. Pepple’s frustration echoed throughout the union, who warned that without urgent action from Rivers State’s government (led by sole administrator Ibok Ete Ibas), the waterways risk falling entirely under criminal control.
Authorities Respond Amid Growing Tensions
Police spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko confirmed that forces are investigating and promised that efforts to find and rescue those kidnapped are in full swing. There’s no word yet on ransom demands or the current condition of those abducted, stoking fears among families and throwing the spotlight squarely on officials tasked with keeping locals safe.
But the union doesn’t seem convinced by official reassurances. Threats of a shutdown—stopping all passenger and cargo movements on the Rivers State waterways—are now firmly on the table, the union hoping to pressure the government into more concrete action. This isn’t just a dispute over security patrol schedules; it’s about the lifeblood of a region where rivers connect communities more than any paved road ever could.
For now, every student, trader, and commuter setting out by boat has to weigh their own safety against the necessity of travel. The current wave of maritime kidnappings, fueled by inadequate government coordination and resources, is pushing people to their limit. Without a swift response—like fueling those idle gunboats and improving maritime surveillance—this piracy problem only risks getting worse. With both the union and families clamoring for answers, and criminals emboldened by success, the waterways face a test no one asked for and nobody knows how to solve just yet.
