Fishers in Ibeno local government area, Akwa Ibom state (a state in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria) have threatened to shut down commercial and government activities on Monday, 24th October, 2022, in protest against overbearing negligence of their plight in the hands of Sea Pirates, in what they described as the government’s refusal to assist them to wade off incessant attacks by pirates.
Fishers, under the aegis of Ibeno Ghana Yoruba Fishermen Association (IBEGHAYO), who decried incessant Attacks by Sea Pirates, said within four months, they have lost over 35 engine boats to their attackers, saying that they are sometimes taken hostage for ransom.
Speaking with newsmen in Ibeno, the chairman of the association, Mr Samuel Akpan, noted the only security post, Mopol 29, which he said 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.
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.
Another fisherman, Akpanika Samuel, who spoke with newsmen, said they are at a fix as nothing is working for them: “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.”