Suspected sea pirates have killed nine fishermen and inflicted gunshot and machete injuries on 15 others on Akwa Ibom State waterways.
The hoodlums, who have sustained attacks on fishermen in recent times, also reportedly seized over 200 wooden boats and outboard engines from their victims.
The fishermen, mostly Yoruba of the Ilaje stock, lamented that they had being subjected to hardship due to the activities of sea pirates.
Speaking at the weekend, spokesperson for the fishermen at Uta Ewa, Ikot Abasi Local Government, Mr. Agborabo Jeremiah Gbogbolese, told The Nation that they paid N400,000 to sea pirates on a monthly basis so that they could be allowed to fish.
He said: “It has become unbearable for us to comply with the imposition of stringent conditions and payment of N400,000 as demanded on a monthly basis by sea pirates before they can allow us to fish.
“Apart from nine of us who have been killed by sea pirates, 15 fishermen also sustained severe injuries from gunshot and machete cuts.”
Gbogbolese said the presence of operatives of Nigeria Navy Ship Jubilee (NNS), Marine Police and other security agencies on the Ikot Abasi waterways had not helped the situation.
He called on the state and federal governments to come to their rescue, as findings showed the hoodlums operated from Otoyo and Agbama community in Andoni Local Government of River State.