Maritime Insecurity: Ayade places order for gun boats

Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has placed an order for the purchase of several gunboats to fight increasing maritime insecurity, piracy and militancy in the creeks of Calabar and other coastal towns of the state.

Director-General of the state’s Waterways Services, Bobby E. Ekpenyong, who confirmed this during a call on the chairman of Bakassi Local Government Area, Iyadim Amboni Iyadim, said the gun boats would soon be delivered to compliment the state security outfit, Operation Apakwu.

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Ekpenyong said heightened insecurity on the waters informed the governor’s decision to acquire the gunboats which number he did not specify.

Responding, Iyadim said the decision to purchase the gun boats was appropriate because economic activities within Bakassi beaches had dwindled due to insecurity.