Women from Bille Kingdom in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State have staged a peaceful demonstration at the Rivers State Government House, protesting the increasing pirate attacks along their waterways.
The women appealed to the State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Retired), to urgently deploy concrete security measures to safeguard lives and restore safety in the region’s maritime routes.
The protest comes on the heels of a series of violent incidents. On April 6, 2025, six travelers from Bille were abducted near the New Calabar River while heading to Port Harcourt. They were held captive for 12 days and freed after a ransom of ₦28 million was paid.
Just days later, on May 6, thirteen more passengers traveling from Port Harcourt to Bille were similarly kidnapped along the waterways.
These repeated attacks have instilled fear among residents and paralyzed water transportation — the only means of accessing Bille.
Chanting solidarity songs and brandishing placards, the women demanded increased security patrols and a permanent government security presence to end the growing threat of piracy in their waters.
