Militants lay siege in Akwa'ibom community

Dozens of militants, who were dislodged from
Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers states by Joint Task
Force, are now terrorising local fishermen and
traders in Mbo creeks in Mbo Local Government
Area of Akwa Ibom State.
The fishermen and traders, who spoke with our
correspondent in Ibaka, Mbughu Unyenge and
Okposo, on Saturday, said they lost fishing
equipment and money to the militants.
A fisherman, Mr. Okon Ansa, said the militants
usually attacked them using different strategies.
He explained that one of the strategies of the
former militants was to shoot from every
direction, thereby confusing their victims.
He added that sometimes, the bandits would
capture their victims by laying ambush for them.
Ansa, who claimed he lost 75 horsepower
outboard engine, which cost N1.4m, to the
robbers, told our correspondent that the engine
was three weeks old when the robbers snatched it
from him.
He said, "I feel like crying. All the money I have
been saving for the past three years was gone.
"I am indebted to those that I took a loan from to
buy the engine. Where will I raise N1.4m to pay
my debt?
"The scenario was just like a dream to me. The
assailants chased us for close to 40 minutes,
shooting from every direction. We were only lucky
that no life was lost."
Another fisherman, Mr. David Bassey, said many
fishermen and market women had been deprived
of their means of livelihood by the militants.
He stated that the militants killed a fisherman
from Inua Abasi on Tuesday and stole the boat's
outboard engine.
He noted that the presence of the Nigerian Navy
in Mbo did not deter the bandit, saying naval
officers did not have boats to patrol the water.
Bassey said, "These people are killing us and our
businesses. We are afraid of going into the water.
The government is not looking at our direction,
we are at the mercy of the militants.
"The militants, apart from taking fish, garri and
money, also subject us to serious beating."
The Police Public Relations Officer, Akwa Ibom
State Command, Mr. Etim Dickson, said the police
were aware of the development.
He said when the AIG, Mr. Jonathan Johnson,
visited the paramount ruler of Oron, Odiong
Akan, the monarch told Johnson that the militants
were terrorising the waterways.
He said, "When the AIG visited the paramount
ruler of Oron, he made a special request that the
police be deployed in Oron waterways to check
the incursion of pirates."
He stated that there was a limit the police could
go to ensure the protection of lives and property
in the waterways.
Navy Public Relations Officer, Ikot Abasi, Akwa
Ibom State, Sub-Lieutenant Iginla, said he would
call back.
Source:punch