Gunmen have attacked fishermen at Itanwa area of Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State and carted away over ten Yamaha engines and 40 horsepower outboard engines.
A source, who pleaded anonymity, told journalists in Uyo, on Sunday, November 14, 2021, that the militants had on Saturday, November 13, 2021, stormed the high sea, in a speed boat with double 200 horsepower engines and dispossessed their victims of their belongings at gunpoint.
So many victims, it was gathered, were brutalised and they sustained varying degrees of injuries from the attack even as some are receiving treatment from the hospital.
His words, “More than ten Yamaha, 40 horsepower outboard engines were snatched at gunpoint from the fishermen in Itanwa axis of Ikot Abasi local government area of the state today (Saturday).
“Some fishermen were brutalised while others sustained varying degrees of injuries. They (the sea pirates) came in a speed boat with double 200 horsepower engines.”
However, the latest attack came following the normalcy and security the Nigerian Navy and the police were said to have brought in the Akwa Ibom waterways in which through the joint operation in Ibaka area, they arrested two suspects and recovered 4 outboard engines and several firearms hidden underground.
The fishermen had suffered unwarranted attacks and abductions of their members in the past one year. The fishermen under the auspices of Watchout Cooperative Society Ibaka, recently staged a protest match and called on the President Muhammadu Buhari, to secure the waterways.
However, when contacted, the Public Relations Officer, Odiko Macdon said the command is yet to be informed about the incident in Ikot Abasi, but added that he would find out what actually happened.
“I am not aware of that information yet, but I will investigate,” Macdon said.
