Barely a month after his registration as a member of the Nigerian Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association, Captain Patrick Abormegah; a Nigerian and Captain of a fishing trawler named Lily 4, which is reportedly owned by Atlantic Shrimpers Limited, has been killed by dare-devil pirates.
Even though the circumstances of the death have been kept secret since late December, 2012 when it occurred, our correspondent unearthed Captain Abormegah’s death from sources within the seafarers’ body.
Barely a month after his registration as a member of the Nigerian Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association, Captain Patrick Abormegah; a Nigerian and Captain of a fishing trawler named Lily 4, which is reportedly owned by Atlantic Shrimpers Limited, has been killed by dare-devil pirates.
Even though the circumstances of the death have been kept secret since late December, 2012 when it occurred, our correspondent unearthed Captain Abormegah’s death from sources within the seafarers’ body.
The Fishing Zonal Council Secretary of the association; Mr. Kingsley Enahoro who confirmed the death of the late master mariner to our correspondent in Lagos yesterday, revealed that captain was killed around Xmas period last year, even as he added that the deceased captain had earlier in the first week of December 2012, been kidnapped by sea robbers. He was released after he allegedly paid the ransom that was demanded by his abductors.
Enahoro also disclosed that the ugly incident took place on the Andoni Rivers along the Bonny waterways in Rivers State, even as he stressed that the deceased who also had a Ghanaian root was the only crew that was killed on the ill-fated trawler.
He revealed that the late captain was unable to provide the required ransom demanded by the pirates.
Giving further insight, our source added that the corpse arrived Lagos on the 30th of December 2012 and it is still lying at an undisclosed mortuary in Lagos state, pointing out arrangements are ongoing for the funeral.
However the association has called on the federal government and other maritime security outfits to provide security on the nation’s waters as attacks on trawlers have been increasing at an alarming rate.
The association through it Fishing Zonal Council Chairman ,Captain Tolu Fayemi told Shipping Position Daily that fishing trawlers are vulnerable and exposed to pirates due to insecurity within the country’s maritime domain.
He said that pirates have shifted their attention to trawlers from tankers vessels, pointing out that trawlers are now being attacked at sea.
Fayemi urged NIMASA, other marine security outfits and the federal government to mount checkpoints at the every water ‘mouths’ in order to address the incessant attacks on vessels within the nation’s maritime domain.
The chairman added that trawlers sailing on the shores of Brass, Bonny and Escravos at the moment are not safe due to persistent attack by daredevil pirates.
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