In a bold legislative move, the House of Representatives has raised alarm over the abduction of 18 Nigerians—including women and children—who were seized by sea pirates on May 6 along the Bille-Bonny waterways in Rivers State. The lower chamber, in a motion of urgent national importance, described the incident as a grave threat to national security and the safety of citizens navigating Nigeria’s coastal regions.
Deeply disturbed by the audacity of the attack, lawmakers called on the Inspector-General of Police to immediately deploy gunboats to the affected areas and bolster patrols across the creeks, which have increasingly become hideouts for criminal syndicates. They emphasized that the Bille-Bonny route is a critical corridor for economic and social activity in the Niger Delta, and its security must not be taken lightly.
The House further mandated its Committees on Police Affairs, National Security, and Human Rights to investigate the incident and ensure compliance with its resolutions within four weeks. The urgency, they said, is not just to secure the release of the captives but to restore confidence among residents and travelers who rely on water transportation in the region.
This tragic event adds to the growing concerns over the frequency of pirate attacks in Nigeria’s waterways, raising questions about the effectiveness of current security strategies. The House reiterated its commitment to the protection of all Nigerians and called on security agencies to act swiftly and decisively.