Coastal Communities Appeal to Jonathan For Help as Pirates Paralyze Activities Along Bakassi River

by crossriverwatch admin

The increase in the activities of sea pirates along the Bakassi River and other coastal communities in Cross River State have become a source of worry to the people of the riverine communities.

A crossriverwatch correspondent who visited the communities gathered that the development has rendered their youths and able adults idle without daily work due to fear of possible attack by these pirates.

The development came just as the people called on President Jonathan to come to their aid and secure the waterways so they can go about their fishing without molestation.

Richard Edem, a youth leader in Bakassi said, “Life is terrible here, we can no longer do our daily work as fishermen because of possible attack by the sea pirates, we need the support of President Jonathan to see to our Problem because he is a riverine man too. This is beyond what Cross River State Government can do; pleases help us to inform Mr. President that Sea Pirates are making life difficult for us to do our legitimate duties along this river”.

Also a boat operator, Julius Okpara who was seen idle along the coast of Bakassi River said “There is little or nothing to do due to daily attacks we face by the sea pirates and to make the matter worse, the boat that killed many people in the high sea recently is making travelers by water to be scared of this route, we don’t know what to do than to beg the federal government to make the water safe for us. Since they sold out Bakassi to Cameroon this problem started but the recent is becoming unbearable because we that ply the route know what we face. Please tell them “.

Cross River State government had recently rated the activities of pirates along the Bakassi and Akpayafe River as the highest in the country.

Governor Imoke also told the Commander of the Nigerian Navy Victory Base Calabar, Commodore James Oladipo and the Commander 207 Mobility Group of the Nigeria Air force, during a visit to governor’s office that, the state of the activities of the pirates on Bakassi waters need urgent attention due to its proximity to both Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea.

The effect of these activities in the nation’s maritime domain according to Imoke has implication on the National Security. He called for the urgent deployment of a Naval Helicopter to Police the Area.

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