Residents of riverine communities within the coastal states have been accused of posing serious threat to fishing trawlers operations. This is in addition to the rising cases of attacks by sea robbers and pirates.
Shipping Position Daily gathered that some communities; mostly in Lagos, and Cross River States are demanding millions from fishing trawlers before being allowed to either sail through or even fish.
Highlighting some of the challenges being faced by trawler owners and seafarers, a captain and senior member of the Nigerian Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association told Shipping Position Daily that sailing from Lagos to the Calabar axis and the parts of West Africa has been tasking.
The captain who prefers anonymity said within 50 days voyage of fish hunting, seafarers are faced with series of attempts by robbers at sea, saying that apart from criminals at sea, the communities along the coast have made matters worse in recent times.
He alleged that leaders of these communities write letters to trawler owners demanding millions of Naira as dues, which they tag ‘special payment’.
Although, he stated that seafarers had attempted to resist that payment, but lamented that the persistent agitation from the communities has put sea farers engaged on board fishing trawlers at risk, he urged government to intervene and put a stop to the attack.
He identified the communities as: Ilaje in Lagos and Efuk in Calabar along with some communities in Cross Rivers, Bayelsa and Rivers states.
The Captain alleged that such communities have the support of their respective traditional rulers and added also that the miscreants who attack the trawler also have the full support of the communities before launching any form of attack on the trawlers.
According to him, “the Ilaje community came up with papers that are circulated to all trawler owners, demanding for monies ranging from N5 million to 10 million per boat and that is there demand”.
He noted that the community youths are threatening that whoever that wants to be save in their boats must pay such amount, but added that “from our end we know that paying such money is irrelevant”.
He said trawler owners have refused to pay the amount because once they comply; the communities will make it their right.
The Merchant navy officer also reiterated that crews on board such crafts are sailing in fear because of the demands from these communities.
The captain said monies paid in the past to those communities had been allegedly used to purchase sophisticated equipment and arms that are now being used to launch attack on boats.
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