No fever than 3,000 locals comprising men, women and youths in Kotonkarfe Kogi Local Government Area of Kogi State on Thursday, went for fish harvest in one of the ponds located at Agbudu in Kotonkarfe kingdom.
Daily Trust reporter, who visited the fish pond site at the river bank of River Niger, observed as both male and female adults including housewives as well as elderly women and youths carried fish nets, hook and arrows and dived into the pond struggling to catch fish.
It was also observed that some of the locals rode on canoes with nets to catch fish of different sizes, while some women were also seen with nets and cutlasses going deep under the grasses to search for fish.
Speaking with our reporter at the river bank, Ohenyi of Igu kingdom, the chief of all rivers in Kotonkarfe kingdom, Ahmed Yunusa, said the pond was among other several ponds under Kotonkarfe kingdom where locals across various ethnic groups usually come together to fish.
- Contractors with no shovel get contracts in Kano – FERMA
- Borno CJTF Chair vows total clearance of Boko Haram remnants
He said before embarking on the local fishing, the Ohimegye Igu-Koton-Karfe kingdom, His Royal Majesty (HRM) Alhaji Salihu Saidu Akawu, would grant permission.
“What you are seeing here today is just local fishing, not the annual fishing festival that normally holds. This very one that is being held today, is with the permission of the Ohimegye Igu-Koton-Karfe kingdom Alhaji Saidu Salihu Akawu, before we embark on fishing at the pond,” he said.
According to him, the local fishing usually holds March of every year, which he said fishermen men and women, young and old come together to catch fish at the pond and take them home to eat with their families.
The Ohimegye Igu-Koton-Karfe kingdom, Alhaji Saidu Salihu Akawu, while speaking with our reporter at his palace, noted that the fish pond was among other several ponds where his staff subjects are granted permission to go and fish.
He said the palace decided to always embark on local fishing as a way of bringing people together for sustainable peace and development of the entire Igu kingdom.
The monarch, however, said the main annual fishing festival ought to be held in March, but would not hold due to some little hitches.
See the pictures below:
Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.
