Eight persons have been reportedly kidnapped from a boat on the Kula-Abonnema water ways in Akuku-Toru local government area of Rivers State.
The victims including seven males and a female were kidnapped, Monday on their way to Abonnema town by unknown gunmen suspected to be sea pirates.
It was gathered that the eight victims were members of the Kula Maritime Transporters Union.
They were among twelve passengers who were in the boat during the attack.
One Davies Opri from the area who confirmed the incident said the victims were on their way to Abonnema for a meeting to resolve a lingering crisis within the Transportation union.
The source noted that when the boat was ambushed by another speed boat, the eight victims were identified and taken away by the armed men while four other passengers on the boat were let go.
According to him “When they saw another boat chasing them, the driver initially thought it was a kidnap by sea pirates, coming to take their boat. The driver packed the boat then the criminal group arrived and were pointing at people to enter their own boat and allowed the remaining people to swim to the mangrove.
“The chairman and seven other people were taken away by the men.”
Chairman of the area, Roland Sekibo who confirmed the incident said efforts are on to rescue them.
