Gunmen attack Akwa Ibom fishermen, amputate villager’s hand, steal seven outboard engines

Ini-Ikwe, a fishing settlement in Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, was invaded by gunmen who cut off a fisherman’s hand.

Within a week, they had hauled away seven outboard engines.

According to Mr Ernest Charlie, a spokesperson for fishermen, an outboard engine costs one million naira.

Charlie stated this while filing a formal complaint with Elder Iniabasi Ekanem, Chairman of Onna Local Government Area, saying that fishermen’s safety was no longer guaranteed due to ongoing attacks by gunmen in the area.

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“Last week, gunmen took six outboard engines from us and even cut off one of our friends’ hands during the attack,” he claims. In our community, an outboard engine was stolen just yesterday.”
While lamenting that their source of livelihood had been threatened, the spokesperson called on the government to beef up security in the area by deploying surveillance boats to stop further attacks.

“Our sources of business in the community are dying because of insecurity in our waterways. The State government should please come to our rescue.
Gunmen are terrorizing us in our waterways and our safety is not guaranteed,” he said.

Responding, the chairman of Onna, who was represented by Mr Phillip Ambrose, the Dean of Supervisors in Onna LGA expressed dismay over the attack by hoodlums in the waterways and sympathised with the affected fishermen.

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He explained that the council was collaborating with security agencies to tackle the security situation in the area.

Ambrose promised to report back to the Authority and urged them to remain calm and not take laws into their hands.