Pirates hijack vessel and kidnap 2 passengers

Maritime pirates hijacked a government vessel and kidnapped two passengers in the Niger Delta on 4 March 2009. Authorities stated that at least six gunmen armed with AK47 machine guns and rocket propelled grenades attacked the Bonny local government passenger vessel near Dutch Island Creek at approximately 1300 local time. The pirates apparently commandeered the vessel and robbed the passengers before forcing them off the boat. The attackers then kidnapped two passengers and transported them to an unknown location. The attack was the second incident in the past two months against the Bonny government vessels, which the local government uses to ease transportation to and from the oil and gas-rich Bonny Island.