In a brazen daylight raid on May 6, 2025, suspected sea pirates abducted 14 people, 13 passengers and a boat driver, on the Isaka River in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.
According to sources who spoke to Zagazola Makama, the victims were travelling aboard a speedboat named Blessing & Happy Marine, piloted by Benjamin Alabotubo, when the incident took place around 12:15 p.m. The vessel had departed from Port Harcourt and was headed for Bille town.
Eyewitness accounts revealed that the attackers, disguised in military fatigues, intercepted the boat mid-route, forcing all occupants into captivity before fleeing to an undisclosed location.
Security forces have since been deployed to the area, with a rescue mission currently underway to locate the victims, retrieve the hijacked boat, and capture those responsible for the attack.