Gunmen kidnap four women on Bayelsa Waterway

Gunmen have kidnapped four women along the waterways of Foropa, in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The victims were seized on Tuesday during an attack on a local boat transporting traders. The vessel, which departed from the Swali Ultra-Modern Market jetty in Yenagoa, was carrying 12 women, all of whom were robbed of their money and valuables. However, four of the women were taken to an undisclosed location, sparking fear among traders who routinely travel by boat between Yenagoa and interior markets. The abduction prompted swift condemnation from Selekaye Victor-Ben, a member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly representing Southern Ijaw Constituency 4 and chair of the Committee on Human Rights. Describing the incident as a “cowardly attack on innocent citizens,” Victor-Ben said the act posed a serious threat to peace and the local economy. “I vehemently condemn this barbaric act in the strongest terms and stand in solidarity with the victims’ families during this agonising time,” he said on Thursday in Yenagoa. He called on the Bayelsa State Government and security agencies, especially the Nigeria Police Force, to act swiftly to ensure the victims’ immediate and unconditional release. Victor-Ben also urged that those responsible be brought to justice without delay. He stressed the need for enhanced surveillance and security patrols along the state’s waterways to protect residents and traders. “The people of Southern Ijaw deserve to travel our waterways without fear. The government must prioritise maritime security with sustainable solutions to prevent further attacks,” he added. When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Bayelsa State Police Command, SP Musa Mohammed, stated he had not yet been briefed on the incident.