Nigeria: Bayelsa community demands investigation after gunmen abduct 4 women on waterway

By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria

Residents of Bayelsa State are calling for a thorough investigation following the abduction of four women by armed men along the Foropa waterways in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

A member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, who also chairs the Human Rights Committee, criticized the incident as a sign of serious weaknesses in the region’s waterway security. He expressed concern that such an attack could happen in broad daylight without any resistance and demanded an official probe into the security failure.

The victims were among twelve women traveling by boat from the Swali Market in Yenagoa to nearby communities when gunmen intercepted them. All passengers were robbed, and four women were taken away to an unknown location.

The lawmaker condemned the abduction as a deliberate attack on innocent people and warned that the lack of action could encourage further violence. He questioned the absence of marine security patrols and surveillance on a route previously targeted by criminals and stressed the need for accountability.

He urged state authorities and security agencies to swiftly rescue the victims and ensure the attackers face justice. Other residents, including traders and boat operators, echoed his concerns, stating that such attacks have become increasingly common and have left the community living in fear.

A police spokesperson stated he had not yet been briefed on the incident.