Eight students from Bille Kingdom in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State are still in captivity nearly three weeks after suspected sea pirates kidnapped them along the Bille-Port Harcourt waterway on May 6, 2025. The students were on their way to write the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) when their boat was attacked.
A total of 13 passengers were abducted during the incident. While one of the victims—a uniformed security officer—was later released, the remaining students remain in the custody of the kidnappers. The attackers are reportedly demanding a ransom of ₦100 million for their release.
The demand has left parents and the entire Bille community distressed and helpless. Dr. Osaki Miller, former Youth President of Bille Kingdom, said the families are in deep pain and uncertainty, with many unable to sleep or focus as their children miss vital examinations.
“These students were just trying to take their exams. Now they are in the bush, and their parents are crying daily,” Miller said. “The kidnappers’ demand is unrealistic. These are poor families. There’s no way they can raise ₦100 million.”
Despite several appeals to the Rivers State Government and security agencies, including Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), the state’s Sole Administrator, no concrete steps have been taken to rescue the students. Protests have been held in Port Harcourt, with women from the Bille community—dressed in black—marching to Government House, pleading for intervention.
One protest leader, Janet Adokiye Adebayo, said: “These are children. They were not armed. They were going to school. We are begging the government to act now before it’s too late.”
A woman among the protesters, sobbing and lying on the ground, cried, “Please help me. My son is still in the creek. Sea pirates took him. I beg you, bring him back to me.”
The situation has once again brought attention to the rising insecurity along the waterways in Rivers and other parts of the Niger Delta. In a related incident, one woman recalled that her mother had previously been abducted and released only after ₦30 million in ransom, plus fuel, food, and power banks were delivered to the kidnappers.
As the students continue to miss their exams, community leaders are calling on the Nigerian Navy, Army, and Police to act swiftly and ensure the safe rescue of the abducted students. They also demand increased patrols along the waterways to prevent future attacks.
With each passing day, the families of the kidnapped children cling to hope, calling on the government not to abandon them in their time of need.
