Following the reoccurring and incessant pirate attack on trawler vessels operating within the Niger Delta region of the country which have been generating fears among the operators, residents of the area as well as disruption of fishing business and posing a great danger to the lives of the seafarers, a maritime expert and consultant to the International Labour organisation (ILO), Captain Thomas Kemewerigha has called for a proactive step to curb the reoccurrence.
Kemewerigha, who was not happy over the recent development, raised the alarm while calling on the authorities to urgently do something before the situation gets out of hand, adding that such pirate activities at the region at the moment, if not curtailed, is capable of affecting the lives of the people in the zone and would be posing a great danger to the operators and as well may likely cripple the entire nation’s economy.
Speaking during a monthly round table meeting put together by the maritime journalists under the aegis of Maritime Correspondent Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON), held recently in Lagos, Kemewerigha stressed the need for the Nigerian government look beyond attacks on pipeline installations in the region, even as he noted that human lives at sea is at risk.
According to him, there have been precisely seven attacks on fishing trawlers within the Bayelsa and Rivers States coast in the last ten days, even as he lampooned the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Navy for being docile in their operations.
The former President, Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association reiterated that the area of major concern within the nation's territory waters within Latitude 04*.16,000 nautical miles,long.005*00.000E to latitude.
The expert added that the prone areas of attack within the South South coast include: Middleton Rivers, Kulama Rivers, Fish Town Rivers, Akassa Rivers, Pennington rivers and Brass river offshore shores.
He said that those aforementioned areas have turned to be free areas for sea pirate to show their abilities on defenseless seafarers by way of forcefully collecting their valuable.
He alleged that sea robbers and pirates in recently have been killing and maiming sailors on board fishing trawlers, containers vessels and offshore supply vessels.
Speaking further he said “various pirate attacks had been experienced since on 14th of January 2016 till date"
"Within the mentioned period over seven attacks has been recorded on fishing vessels and vessels working for Chevron Nigeria Limited to mention but a few"
"Pirates are having a field day on these vessels are the areas are not patrolled by the Nigerian Navy or NIMASA, hence living the seafarers on board these vessels, defenseless, which has in some cases lead to loss of lives and valuable properties of seafarers as earlier mentioned"
"We strongly appeal to the federal government to instruct as a matter of urgency the Navy, NIMASA and other relevant authorities to immediately commence an efficient patrolling of these areas to avert the killing of defenseless seafarers who are going about their legal duties"
Kemewerigha also revealed that the incessant attack on such craft has been reported International Maritime Bureau (IMB) piracy reporting centre for the purpose to the send the signal on how volatile the Bayelsa Rivers states coast is at the moment.
The ILO expert further pointed out that "we draw the attention of the federal government of Nigeria, the Navy and NIMASA who are saddled with the responsibility of policing our territorial waters to look into incessant piracy attack on vessels within our territorial waters", he added Apapa Customs Rakes N23.4billion Revenue in January
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