Suspected sea pirates on Friday in the waterways of Brass, in Brass Local Government Area of the State in Bayelsa State, attacked a passenger boat carrying five aides of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Chief Sam Ateki.
Other passenger boats along the waterways at the time of the attack including the boat conveying the State Chairman of the Nigerian Union Journalists (NUJ), Tare Akono, escaped unhurt, owing to advance information obtained from a woman fishing in the area.
The victims of the attack were heading to Twon Brass to participate in the House of Assembly election. They were reportedly taken to an unknown destination.
According to an eyewitness identified simply as Tonye, "The sea pirates were heavily armed and shot sporadically to scare the boat driver. The boat was filled with passengers made up of members of the Twon Brass PDP and aides to the Deputy Speaker."
Comrade Akono, who confirmed the incident, said of their good fortune, "When [the lady] saw our boat moving to the site of the attack, she quickly informed us and we turned back and hid at Okoroma community until after the sea pirate operation."
The attack has however reduced the water movement of voters to various coastal communities to participate in tomorrow 's State House of Assembly elections in the State.
Confirming the attack, the State Police Command spokesperson, ASP Asinim Butswat, however denied that the PDP Chieftain were abducted and that any lives were lost.
“The sea pirates only dispossessed their victims of mobile phones, cash and other personal effects. They were not kidnapped and were coming from the Brass.