No fewer than eleven dead bodies were found in a boat in Jerusalem Creek, Ke clan in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Community sources said the victims were travellers alleged killed by pirates who have taken over the Old Calabar River in recent times.
According to them, the bodies were discovered by security agents patrolling the area on Sunday, adding that the corpses were yet to be identified.
They also claimed that one assault rifle was discovered together with the corpses.
However, the police in Rivers in State claims the incident is not verifiable.
But the source said attacks on travellers have increased despite frequent patrol of the waterways by security agencies.
In November, Rivers State chapter of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria embarked on a three-day warning strike in protest over the rising pirates’ attack along the waterways.
The warning strike came after pirates attacked three passenger-boats going to Port Harcourt from the Bille Kingdom, killing at least three persons and injuring many more.
