ETIM EFFIONG
Gunmen suspected to be sea pirates have again attacked fishermen in Ibaka, Mbo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State and carted away four outboard engines.
It was learnt that the attack happened on Friday, November 19, 2021.
A fisherman who was said to have jumped into the water to escape bullets from the gunmen is yet to be found.
Speaking to our correspondent on Monday in Uyo, counsel to some of the fishermen, Ogunbiyi Oluwajuwon, said the incident which happened about 10 minutes away from Ibaka involved four boats, and lamented the absence of security at the high sea.
“There was another attack on Friday night on the sea. It happened just about ten minutes away from Ibaka. They attacked four separate boats and carted away four outboard engines at gunpoint. One fisherman jumped into the water during the attack, and he is yet to be found,” he said.
Oluwajuwon stated that despite calls on the federal and state governments to remedy the situation, it has continued unabated and urged that a lasting solution to the challenge should be pursued.
“We are calling on Mr President and Governor Udom Emmanuel as a matter of urgency to find a lasting solution to this crisis. Security is the Paramount duty of any government as no economic activity thrives in a hostile environment.
“We are sitting on a ticking time bomb that can exacerbate into another serious security breach and concern in the Niger Delta region as a whole. Time to act is now,” he stated.
Efforts to speak with Pat Dike, the Public Relations Officer, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Jubilee, within which Mbo waterways resides was unsuccessful as she neither picked her calls nor responded to messages sent to her phone.