Stop killing of fishermen by pirates in Akwa Ibom, Reps tell Chief of Naval Staff, others

By Christiana Ekpa

The House of Representatives on Thursday asked the Chief of Naval Staff and heads of relevant security agencies to take urgent and proactive steps against pirates terrorizing fishermen on the Akwa Ibom State Waterways.
The House resolution followed a motion of urgent importance, tagged “Urgent need to stop the continuous killings of fishermen by parents terrorizing Akwa Ibom State Waterways,” sponsored by Alphonsus Uduak
The House also condemned the development and vowed to address the matter without delay.
The Lawmaker while drawing attention of his colleagues to the development during plenary session on Thursday noted that the security of lives and Properties of Nigerians informed the primary purpose of the Nigerian Government as provided for in Section 14 sub-section (2) item (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).”
The House, he said “Is aware of the persistent activities of sea pirates which of course has continually aggravated threats to users of waterways including fishermen, who are often vulnerable, thereby truncating their trades and adversely impacting on the economy of Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria at large.”
He added that the lawmaking chamber is aware of “Man’s inhumanity to man masterminded by pirates against fishermen, having killed nine and inflicted gun shot and machete injuries on 15 others, as at last week in Uta Ewa, Ikot Abasi Local Government Area within the Akwa Ibom State waterways.”