Pirates who hijacked two passenger boats along the Port Harcourt–Bille waterways on May 6 have demanded a ransom of N100 million for the release of 13 abducted passengers, including eight students en route to write the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The victims, kidnapped in the Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, have remained missing since the attack. Speaking on Friday, former Youth President of Bille Kingdom, Dr. Osaki Miller, confirmed the ransom demand and raised concerns about the health and safety of those held captive.
“The whereabouts of the victims are still unknown, and now we have been made to understand that the abductors are asking for N100 million ransom,” Miller said.
He appealed to security agencies to intensify efforts to secure their release, stressing that the victims’ families are traumatised and incapable of raising such a substantial amount.
