Gunmen suspected to be sea pirates have again attacked fishermen off the coast of Ibaka in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, seizing their engine and leaving them stranded on the high sea.
The incident happened on Tuesday, barely 24 hours after the fishermen under the auspices of WatchOut Cooperative Society protested against the incessant attacks and abduction of their members in the state.
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Speaking yesterday in Uyo, counsel representing some of the fishermen, Oluwajuwon Ogunbiyi, said about 25 fishermen were stranded at sea because people were afraid to go for a rescue operation for fear of being attacked.
Ogunbiyi attributed the frequent attacks on the fishermen to the lack of sustained patrol by the Navy while calling on President Muhammadu Buhari and security agencies to save the fishermen from daily attacks by the sea pirates.
He urged the Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Ibaka to intensify patrol on the waterways to minimise the incidence of attacks and abduction of the fishermen in the state.
However, the Navy Commanding Officer, Forward Operating Base in Ibaka, Capt. Abu, denied the allegations of lack of patrol on the waterways.
He said, “I was at the sea yesterday and I only came back this morning. Any time you come here we will tell you the efforts we have been making.”
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