Govt calls for peace, as Akassa youths, fishermen clash In Brass

FOLLOWING reports of clashes between Akassa youths and fishermen in Brass territorial waterways, the Caretaker Chairman Brass Local Government Area, Hon Victor Isaiah has called on traditional rulers and community heads to prevail on their subjects and wards on the need to pursue peace and be considerate in the shared livelihood of other fishermen.

The chairman made the call when a delegation of aggrieved fishermen led by one Mr Rotimi Atimisei paid him a courtesy visit in his office over the incessant attacks and intimidation on fishermen.

Narrating their ordeal, Mr Atimisei alleged that they have suffered great losses amounting to millions of naira due to the continuous attacks.

According to Mr Atimisei, youths from Akassa kingdom over the years have developed the habit of attacking fishermen that are not indigenes of Brass and have continued to attempt to chase them away whenever they drift into Akassa waters.

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“We set off for fishing every day in fear and in anticipation of another assault by Akassa youths who don’t want us to fish in their territory. And whenever they storm at us, they cart away our outboard engines, fuel and even big catches” he asserted.

Mr Rotimi said, “so far a total of 93 outboard engines of various sizes and an unquantifiable amount of fuel has been reported to have been seized by the Akassa boys. We don’t only fear sea pirates but also the rampaging Akassa youths who don’t want us in their waters. We are not aware of a law that restricts us from fishing there, hence we call on you to use your good office as council chairman to prevail on the youths of Akassa to stop the attacks and return all our seized engines.

“Though we have reported several times to Police, but we lack confidence in their promise as nothing has changed. As a community leader in the fishing settlement, I am personally appealing to you to treat this as an urgent public concern”,

Reacting to the disturbing report, Hon Isaiah said the information left him speechless, saying he is unhappy with the unruly action of the youths who have brought unjustifiable hardship on others without empathy.

He, however, bemoaned the attitude of community heads who are aware of the cruelty of the youths on other fishermen and yet allow the onslaught to continue unabated.

He said that Nigeria doesn’t have an existing law that instructs or permits communities to guide its waterways and restrict outsiders from fishing by violent means.

“I am greatly disturbed hearing and knowing about the unfortunate situation in the Akassa area because I am not aware of any existential law that gives a community the authority or empowerment to attack fishermen that drift into its territory.

“Your case is even more worrisome because you are physically intimidated, assaulted and your fishing gears and properties seized unjustly”,

Furthermore, in a bid to forestall a palpable full-scale conflict between the indigenous fishermen and their outside counterparts, the chairman has directed for a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the problem with a view to settling the dispute.

He further urged the aggrieved fishermen to maintain their peaceful disposition as the matter will be raised with the Akassa council of chiefs and other relevant youth bodies in the course of the investigation.

“I want you all to remain calm even in the face of provocation. I promise to take this up with our fathers the Akassa council of chiefs and the youth leadership. So be rest assured that everything will be fine soon. I think the deep issues behind the attacks should be settled by talking with the youths in a roundtable”, he added