Unidentified kidnappers suspected to be sea pirates have attacked speedboats and abducted a traditional chief and six other passengers along the Okpoama/Odioma and Nembe/Brass waterways of Bayelsa State.
The abductions were reported to have occurred in two separate simultaneous incidents on Tuesday.
The traditional Chief, identified simply as Walter, from Odioma was reportedly kidnapped around the fishing port in Dasaba while Inerikuma Moses aka Holy Moses was abducted in the Okpoama port.
Another victim, Alabo Elei was was said to have been kidnapped with indications that he was coming from Yenagoa, the state capital, when he was captured by the suspected pirates.
The rampant abduction of people and passengers by sea pirates have paralysed marine transportation in the Nembe and Brass areas of the state.
Maritime workers in the areas have suspended their operations, a development that has left boat passengers stranded.
Apart from the six persons abducted on Tuesday, some others have been held hostage by pirates in the last one week, a situation that has thrown residents in the coastal communities into panic.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, Mike Okoli, has ordered immediate manhunt for the kidnappers.
