By Hauwa Ali
Fishermen in Ibeno local government area, Akwa Ibom state, have announced plans to commence protests from Monday 24th October against the incessant attacks they have suffered in the hands of sea pirates owing to a lack of security.
The chairman of Ibeno Ghana Yoruba Fishermen Association (IBEGHAYO), Mr Samuel Akpan, While speaking with newsmen in Ibeno, threatened to shut down commercial and government activities because of the government’s refusal to assist them to wade off incessant attacks by pirates.
According to him, within four months, they have lost over 35 engine boats to their attackers, saying that they are sometimes taken hostage for ransom.
“By Monday next week, we shall protest and ensure that activities in the area are completely crippled”, Akpan said.” Akpan said.
He noted that the only security post, Mopol 29, which usually provides security for fishers, is shut down for lack of funding by the local government.
According to him, when the issue was brought to the local government chairman in 2021, he assured the association that once he receives the tenement rate, he would purchase four 200 horsepower engines and two-speed boats for security officials to parade the sea, but added that till now, the chairman, though allegedly received the money, has not only reneged on his promises but has done nothing to halt attacks on fishers in Ibeno.
“Let me tell you, we have been contributing money to provide security for ourselves, but we are tired. We have it in good authority that money has been released to the local government in order to assist security, but the chairman has refused to use the money.” He said.
Chief Samson Udoeka, Vice Chairman of the association recounted the level of suffering fishers in the local government are passing through and appealed to the government to help them.
“We want the world to know the level of suffering fishers in Ibeno are passing through because of pirates. They have been carting away our engines. Within four months, Sea Pirates have carted away 35 engines and even in the last two weeks, 8 engine boats were taken away.
“We have explained our situation to the local government chairman, but he has shown no concern.
The chairman had promised to assist us because through us the economy of the LGA is booming. The chairman promised to give the security operatives stationed in the area 200 horsepower engines and two speed boats for security to give us coverage.
“The security personnel we hired to protect us have no facilities to do so. We have reported this case to stakeholders of Ibeno, the DPO, Paramount Rulers and they have not acted. We are tired.
“We are telling the chairman that if there is no assistance for us before Monday, we shall shut down all the markets, waterways and cripple other activities within the local government area till help comes our way.” He said.
Another fisherman, Akpanika Samuel, who spoke with newsmen, said they are at a fix as nothing is working for them.
He averred that fishing, their only source of livelihood, is threatened by pirates.
“Our problem as fishers borders on incessant attacks by pirates. Each time pirates come, they will cart away our engines and sometimes take us hostage to the point of we paying them to rescue ourselves.
“Fishing is our only source of livelihood but as it is now, we cannot even fend for ourselves any longer. We cannot go fishing again because each time we go out, our engines will be seized from us. The council chairman had promised that once he gets the tenement rate he would support us but till now nothing has been done.”
Monday Ogunyemi, a Yoruba man and member of Ibeno Ghana Yoruba Association, averred that since the Special Police squad were brought to give them coverage, they did not have any issue until the police engines got spoilt.
Meanwhile, the Akwa Ibom Government has charged the Nigerian army to extend its security oprations to the maritime areas of the state in order to checkmate the rising incidence of piracy and other coastal criminalities
