The menace of sea piracy mostly perpetrated by Somali pirates across the globe may have taken a devastating toll on Nigeria as eight fishing vessels with 96 crew members were taken hostage yesterday.
President of Nigerian Trawler Owners Association (NITOA), Mrs. Margaret Orakwusi, who told THISDAY about the attack last night, said it took place in the early hours of yesterday.
Orakwusi said the vessels were trawling at Sambrayo area of Bayelsa State when armed men suspected to be sea pirates attacked them, taking the vessels along with the crew members to an unknown destination.
As at the time of filing this report, the whereabouts of the vessels and crew members were still unknown.
Orakwusi said the fishing vessels belonged to NITOA members.
According to her, one of the crew members on board one of the vessels, who notified the Navy about the incident, said the vessels were navigated to the deeper sea by the pirates.
She said NITOA had notified the various marine security agencies and the relevant emergency authorities with a view to rescuing the crew members and the vessels.
The NITOA boss appealed to the Federal Government to quickly intervene in the issue.
“We are full of expectation and hope that the 96 crew members in the vessel would be found alive, hale and hearty and return to their families safely,” she said.
Orakwusi expressed surprise that the report lodged at a particular Naval base was been turned down on the excuse that it was outside their jurisdiction.
`”This is contrary to what we used to experience when distress reports are immediately and effectively handled without passing the buck.
“We appeal to the Navy to allow the status quo to remain to enhance safety and marine activities to thrive,” she said.
According to her, the immediate rescue of the crew members and the vessels will restore the confidence of operators in the Nigeria territorial waters.
She reiterated that the maritime industry should be protected because it is the major route for imported goods into the country.
She recalled that on Oct 2, 2008, NITOA lost two crew members to pirates, while one was thrown out on board but was rescued by the Nigerian Ports Authority boat haven swam for seven hours.
The president said the association recorded over 64 attacks in 2008 in which several crew members were either killed or maimed.
He said the industry worth over N564 billion has over 500,000 unskilled and skilled workers.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Committee on Marine Transport yesterday resolved to investigate the death of two naval officers on the Nigerian Territorial waters and the attack on eight vessels belonging to members of the Nigerian Trawlers Association.
Chairman, House Committee on Marine Transport, Honourable Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi , said it had become pertinent that the House looked into the frequent attacks on seafarers on the Nigerian coastal waters and bring a halt to the ugly phenomenon.
“In our meeting today, we (the Committee) decided to take up this issue. The Committee recognises the issue as being very serious and resolved to take it up with the appropriate authorities, including the Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief Gani Ogunleye, with a view to bringing to an end these attacks,” Ugwuanyi said.
He blamed the death of the two naval personnel on negligence on the part of the authorities, adding that the Committee would review the Ports Act, National Transport Committee Bill, the National Inland Water Ways of Nigeria Amendment Bill as well as the sale of properties belonging to the Nigerian Ports Authority, with a view to addressing the issue of private jetties and the activities of pirates on the waterways.
Executive Secretary, Nigerian Trawlers Association, Dr. M.C. Bissong, in an SOS message to the House disclosed that the attacks on vessels were becoming very deadly in recent times and urged the House to do something urgently before more lives were lost.
Oct172008