The rising spate of insecurity in Bayelsa state heightened Friday as gunmen, suspected to be sea pirates, carried out attacks on barges and boats along the Nembe waterways in Bayelsa, abducting six oil workers and four policemen. The pirates also dispossessed the policemen of a gunboat and made away with the arms onboard. The attacks, according to witnesses, occurred separately on Friday causing fear and tension amongst coastal communities and boat operators as the security operatives appeared helpless and defeated. When contacted for comments, the spokesperson for Bayelsa police command, Alex Akhigbe, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said he was on official duty in Abuja and unaware of developments in Bayelsa. The state Police Commissioner, Valentine Ntomchukwu, claimed he was busy in a meeting. Witnesses however said the Police gunboat was escorting a barge operated by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) when it was attacked. The sea pirates, […]