Akwa Ibom community donates land to Navy

IKO community in Eastern Obolo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State has donated land for the establishment of navy outpost or sub-base to curb rising criminal activities in the area.

The donation followed increased cases of killing of fishermen and policemen, raping of young girls and women and theft of boats, outboard engines, among others by sea pirates.

The Commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Jubilee, Ikot Abasi, David Adeniran, stated that the area, which the community had given to the Navy for operation, would enhance their activities.

Speaking at Iko, Adeniran, said his men during the ‘Operation Clean Sweep’, restored peace to many communities under attacks by sea pirates.

Adeniran thanked the community for giving the land to the Navy, noting that the Nigerian Navy would start patrolling and monitoring Iko town to ensure that the community remained safe for all Nigerians.

“During ‘Operation Clean Sweep’, we touched many communities. We were able to bring sanity to the communities. As you can see now, this is Iko town, there is relative peace now and we want to build on that peace,” he said.

Chairman, Iko Central Council of Chiefs, Eastern Obolo, Chief Isaiah Okonko, said the community donated the land to Navy to ensure the safety of the area.

He added that with the ship’s presence, Iko indigenes, who are predominantly fishermen, would start fishing again, even as he stated that residents of Iko community had been impoverished by the activities of pirates.

He said, “As fishermen, we depend on seas for our livelihood. The Navy presence here will help our people to go into fishing again. Without the Navy, we are incapable of doing anything.

“Most times, our boys go to the sea, they come back empty-handed as pirates collect their boats, outboard engines and cash. They also rape our girls and women who go into the seashore to buy fish.”

The Transition Chairman of Eastern Obolo, Edwin Udulom, said besides the fact that the land belonged to government, due process had been followed in donating it to the NNS Jubilee.

He said he did not foresee any problem arising from the donation of the land to navy.