Fishermen in Ini-Ikwe, a fishing settlement in Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, have raised alarm over rising attacks by gunmen, saying they have lost seven outboard engines within a week.
They made this known through their spokesperson, Mr Ernest Charlie, when they met with the chairman of Onna, Elder Iniabasi Ekanem, at the council secretariat on Tuesday.
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The fishermen, who narrated their plight to the chairman, appealed to his government to beef up security in the area to avert further attacks.
Mr Charlie told the chairman that, “Last week, gunmen collected six outboard engines from us and even cut off one of our friends’ hands during one of the attacks. And just yesterday, one outboard engine was stolen again.
“We need government to help us beef up security in this area in order to stop gunmen from further attacking us.”
Responding, the council chairman, Ekanem, expressed dismay over such attacks in the waterways.
The chairman, represented by the dean of supervisors in the council, Mr Phillip Ambrose, sympathised with the affected fishermen. (NAN)
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