From Ibaka, in the Mbo Local Government Area to Ukpenekang in the Ibeno LGA, the complaint is that sea piracy persists because the state government has yet to show enough commitment to the plights of the fishermen, whose sources of livelihood are being crippled on daily by sea pirates’ attack
“There has not been any meaningful attempt to address the security situation by State Government and security agencies. Governor Udom Emmanuel in particular had never taken the issue of the security of the waterways serious and not for once has he tried to meet with these poor fishermen to listen to their plights.
“This has been a recurring decimal. We have been facing this situation for the past 10 years. Some of the fishermen have been kidnapped and ransom demanded and paid. Most times we pay up to N500,000 for the sea pirates to release our engine to us”, Chief Ogungbemi said. He added “They are quite a number of Marine policemen and navy operatives on the sea. They are protecting oil company facilities and their workers and have never helped us when we are attacked”