Following incessant attacks by sea pirates leading to killing of members and seizure of several outboard engines, with one valued at over N3 million, fishing and other maritime businesses have been grounded around the coastal areas of Ibaka in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, LEADERSHIP checks revealed at the weekend.
“Our fishing and other Maritime businesses including water transport have suffered serious setbacks in recent times because of high rate of piracy, militancy and other banditry operations in these locations.
“Few months ago, criminal operations on the waterways in this part of the region have been very alarming and worrisome. Fishermen, business women and other operators around the coastal communities have called on the state and federal governments for help for adequate security cover so as to avoid further attacks by these hoodlums,” the Mbo youth leader of Marine Transport, Comrade Bassey Sunday Edet, lamented in and interview with our Correspondent.
Calling on government, security operatives and other stakeholders to come to their aid, Edet bemoaned their fate in the business, stressing that “our fishing business has collapsed because of attacks by sea pirates. Our boats with outboard engines, fishing equipment and other valuables have been lost in the cause of these frequent attacks.”
Besides, he appealed to Governor Umo Eno to assist the fishing union with boats and equipment with security guarantee to return to their business of fishing, as it is the only source of their livelihood.
He said: “We are appealing to federal and state governments to supply us with more boats and adequate security so that we can do our business well. This is what we use to feed our families and send our children to school, because government is also getting its Internally Generated Revenues (IGR) from here”
He commended the quick intervention of the Marine Police operatives headed by Mr Bashir Hashim at the adjoining Oron LGA, who mobilised his men to combat the pirates during their last operation.
“Everything has returned to normal since we invited the officers of the Marine Police, they came and chased the armed robbers away. They have also provided us with gun boats with their men on standby in case of any emergency or attack,” he recalled.
Also speaking, a community leader and businessman in the Ibaka beach, Prince Honestly Effanga, who recounted his ordeals, said his experiences as a result of the security crises around the coastal communities would continue to linger for years in his memory, and was thankful to the Marine Police, Oron, for providing them security and pleaded with government to beef – up and sustain security operations in the waterways.
“I thank the Commander of the Marine Police, Oron, for standing by us at this time. He is a good man, he should be recommended for higher appointment because he knows his work,” he said.
In the same vein, a businesswoman at the beach, Mrs Ekaette Asuquo, said their businesses are not flowing well as it used to be because of the fear of activities of militants and urged government and other relevant authorities to come to their rescue.
However, a senior security officer, who would not want his name in print, assured that they would continue to provide security in the coastal communities and appealed to governments at all levels to boost their morale by providing more personnel reinforcement and logistics to the affected areas.
