Hell was let loose in some fishing communities of Rivers after some youths armed with weapons stormed the place and unleashed terror on the people.
Armed youths have attacked fishing camps situated at the boundaries of Bonny and Andoni, local government areas in Rivers State. The hoodlums were said to have burnt houses and other properties belonging to the fishermen and their families.
According to The Nation, the youths who were armed with guns and cudgels, reportedly shot sporadically and injured the fleeing inhabitants of the camp. Over 10 of the thugs who were identified as Andoni youths were said to have stormed the area on two speedboats setting the camps on fire as they patrolled the waterways. The youths who were said to have operated for many hours, later departed and came back reinforced with more angry youths.
It was learnt that the fishing camps were occupied by people from Okirika, Ogoni in Rivers State; Ifoko, Epelematubu, Ebeintubu, Forupaka, aka Ago Eri and Mumakiri, aka Ajengule. Others were Brass Nembe and Southern Ijaw from Bayelsa State; Ilaje from Ondo State and some tribes from Delta State.
A fisherman from Bayelsa who sent a distress call to a correspondent in Yenagoa, said the camps had been sacked adding that the fresh attack occurred on Thursday.
The source who spoke in hush tone from his hideout said there was commotion as fishermen and their families were running into the mangrove forest for safety.
The fisherman, who spoke in confidence, urged the correspondent to save them by contacting security agencies.
He said:
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“The armed youths arrived at exactly 2:48pm beating up every young man on sight and threatening to burn down the entire communities along the coast. Nobody can pinpoint the cause of their provocation. The government should do something fast to save lives.
“These Andoni youths have been attacking and harassing us. We are not operating from their side. We are doing our business from the Bonny side of the boundary. The entire place is now empty because people are running away from their camps”
, he said.“These Andoni youths have been attacking and harassing us. We are not operating from their side. We are doing our business from the Bonny side of the boundary. The entire place is now empty because people are running away from their camps”
In a statement via a text message, the Federated Non-indigenous fishermen, farmers and traders in Bonny Coast called on the governments of Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Akwa Ibom and Ondo states to come to their aide.
The statement also sent a save-our-soul message to the Amanyanabo of Grand Bonny Kingdom and the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Worldwide.
The statement said: “We have lived peacefully in Bonny lands and territories for more than 30 years doing legitimate business without any form of molestation from Bonny youths even in the heat of militancy in the Niger Delta region.
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“We have done no harm nor violated the robust business and neighborly relationship we have cordially maintained with the Andonis on the other side of the boundary.
“Hence, we could not understand the reasons why the bands of armed Andoni youth should have the boldness to cross over to the Bonny to subject us to the most frustrating provocations.
“In the last one month our young men have been under daily assault on return from the seas. They have been brutally forced to pay a daily fee of N1000 at gunpoint, immediately on return from the sea”.
“Hence, we could not understand the reasons why the bands of armed Andoni youth should have the boldness to cross over to the Bonny to subject us to the most frustrating provocations.
“In the last one month our young men have been under daily assault on return from the seas. They have been brutally forced to pay a daily fee of N1000 at gunpoint, immediately on return from the sea”.
The statement was signed by the group’s President, Sola Aderibigbe; Vice-President, Mathew Kpabari; Secretary, Ingo Aye and Publicity Secretary, Opuala Oba.
The statement added:
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“These criminals would further command elderly fathers to severe beatings and humiliation in the presence of their wives and children. We have taken enough of this brutality.
“This is not the first time we have experienced these nasty treatments in the hands of miscreants from Andoni. As we speak the six communities have been evacuated of the aged women and children to avoid the daily trauma of being chased into the forest by these blood thirst miscreants from Andoni.”
“This is not the first time we have experienced these nasty treatments in the hands of miscreants from Andoni. As we speak the six communities have been evacuated of the aged women and children to avoid the daily trauma of being chased into the forest by these blood thirst miscreants from Andoni.”
The Naval Commanding Officer, Bonny, Capt. Semiu Adetegba, promised to send troops to the troubled area adding that the navy was doing something about it.
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