Boat owners plying the Calabar/Oron route has lamented over the constant attack by pirates in the Calabar waters, despite allegedly paying N5,000 daily for security.
Speaking to journalists in Calabar, a boat owner who pleaded anonymous revealed pirate attacks has been occurring in the waters since 2014.
According to him, the pirates almost ran them out of business and they have been protesting to draw the government’s attention to the matter.
He went on to reveal how a boat conveying passengers from Calabar to Oron was hijacked by pirates on Monday.
The boat owner also revealed that an attack occurred in December last year and one of the abducted passengers allegedly paid N250,000 before regaining freedom.
Going further, the boat owner disclosed that while the passengers are usually released, the pirates are after the engine of the boats which cost over N2.5 million for a second-hand engine.
While appealing to the government to come to their aid, he noted that pirate attacks in the waters were frequent.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Irene Ugbo said they are not sure about the incident when contacted.
She said;
“I called our OC (Officer in Charge) Marine and he said that’s what he heard and nobody has come to report to the police.
The union leader in charge is supposed to come and report but nevertheless we are on the matter.
The area is being combed and our men are on ground, nobody has come to complain but we are still on it.”
CREDIT: PUNCH
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