Women from the Bille community in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State staged a protest on Monday at the Government House in Port Harcourt over the abduction of eight students travelling to write the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The students were among 13 passengers abducted by suspected sea pirates on May 6, 2025, while en route from Port Harcourt to Bille. The pirates also hijacked three boats carrying goods worth millions of naira.
Dressed in black, the women, under the aegis of Concerned People of Bille Kingdom, marched to the Rivers State Police Headquarters and the Government House, carrying placards with inscriptions.
One of the protesters, Blessing Alale, recounted a past abduction involving her mother, for whom N30 million was paid, along with additional items such as fuel, food, and power banks before her release.
“Now, on May 6, our children were abducted while going to write the WASSCE. Why attack schoolchildren? That is why we mothers are here-enough is enough,” she said.
Another protester, Janet Adebayo, appealed for swift government intervention.
“This incident heightens the persistent insecurity along our waterways, threatening not just lives but the economic stability of riverine communities,” she said.
In response, the Camp Commandant of the Rivers State Government House, O.I. Gabriel, assured the protesters that their concerns would be relayed to the appropriate authorities for immediate action.(Daily trust)
