Port Harcourt, Nigeria – Prominent Rivers State fashion designer Hope Georgewill has been killed by pirates after being abducted along with two others on the New Calabar River.
Georgewill, CEO of HMG Couture, was traveling from Elem Kalabari to Port Harcourt on Wednesday when sea pirates intercepted the boat in Degema Local Government Area. The attackers demanded a ransom of N10 million from the victims’ families.
Despite efforts to negotiate their release, the designer was killed on Friday afternoon. His death has sparked outrage and grief within the fashion industry and the broader community.
Georgewill was a well-respected figure in Port Harcourt’s fashion scene, known for his creativity and craftsmanship. His murder has heightened concerns over rising insecurity in coastal areas plagued by piracy.
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
