Rivers women protest abduction of eight WAEC candidates

Women of the Bille community in the Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State have staged a protest at the Government House, Port Harcourt, demanding the release of eight students who were abducted by suspected pirates while in a boat travelling from Port Harcourt to Bille to sit for the ongoing WAEC exams.

Recall that suspected pirates hijacked three boats with various goods and property worth millions of Naira and kidnapped 13 passengers in the Port Harcourt-Bille waterways on May 6, 2025.

Following the incident, the Chairman, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Port Harcourt Commercial District, Israel Pepple, has said they will suspend transport operations to compel the government to take the necessary action to protect the waterways from what he termed ‘incessant’ pirate attacks.

The women under the aegis of Concerned People of Bille Kingdom, clad in black attires, displayed several placards and chanted songs to drive home their demands.

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Some of the inscriptions on the placards read, ‘Government save us from sea pirates’, ‘Our children going to write WAEC are with the pirates in the bush; some have been raped’, and ‘Bille people are suffering in the hands of pirates’, among others.

The women had first marched to the State Police headquarters along Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, and later moved to the Government House along Azikiwe Road ,where they terminated the protest.

Some of the women who spoke to newsmen alleged that the heavily armed pirates also raped their daughters and disposed of their belongings.

They stated that the eight students are still in the hands of their captors over a week after they were abducted along with five other passengers in a boat.

While in front of Government House, one of the protesters, an elderly woman, flung herself to the ground shouting, “Government please help me my son is inside the River (creek). Sea pirates took him inside the bush. Government please help me bring my son, don’t leave like this.

Speaking to newsmen, a lady who gave her name as Blessing Alale decried the many pirate attacks in the waterways, even as she recounted how her mother and seven others travelling on the same route were kidnapped and forced to pay millions of Naira as ransom before they were freed.

Alale expressed sadness at the recent abduction; the students among those abducted have already missed their exams.

She stated, “Some time ago my mum was a victim. On that day, eight of them were abducted, and a ransom of N30 million was paid. After the N30 million they requested, we bought dream fuel (petrol), power banks, bread and water before they will release them.

“We paid all that before they were out. That was then. Now this one on the 6th of this month our children were going to write WAEC in Bille, sea pirates abducted them. How will they attack children who were going to school to write their WAEC, about eight of them?

“The other time they will say they are adults, but these are children going to write WAEC. Their siblings are writing the exam. So it means that these children have missed out on all the papers that have been written.”

Alale continued, “That is why the women, the mothers are here, I’m also a mother and have come out to say enough is enough. These mothers of the abducted one and the entire mothers of Bill are here seeking for help so that these children will be released to join the others.”

In her address presented to a government House official, one of the leaders of the protest, Janet Adebayo, said, “On 6th May 2025 along the Port Harcourt –Bille Waterways a speedboat carrying 13 passengers was intercepted by heavily armed pirates who diverted them into the creeks.

“Since then, all abducted persons remain missing, leaving their families in a state of deep distress and uncertainty.

“This tragic incident marks yet another escalation in the persistent security threats along our waterways and endangers the lives of commuters and the socio-economic stability of riverine communities, especially Bille Kingdom in particular.”

She added, “In the light of this, this is an urgent appeal for intervention in the activities of sea pirates and formal submission to the Rivers State Government. We humbly appeal to the Nigerian Police, the Army and the Navy for urgent intervention by deploying patrol units to intensify surveillance and rescue operations.

“Additionally, we request your support in working with relevant security agencies to ensure the safe release of the kidnapped victims and prevent further attacks.

Addressing the women, the Camp Commandant, Rivers State Government House, O.I. Gabriel, thanked them for their peaceful disposition and assured them that actions would be taken immediately.

Gabriel stated, “The Sole Administrator gave instructions to the Chief of Staff, and the Chief of Staff now instructed me, as the Camp Commandant, to come and address you.

“And that I should collect the letter from you for immediate action to be taken in respect of the letter,” even as he appealed to the women to return home, assuring them that their letter would get to the Sole Administrator and action would be taken.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said the investigation is still ongoing to ensure those abducted are released unhurt.

She stated, “We have intensified efforts to also ensure that the perpetrators are fished out and made to face justice”.