The village head of Idua Sang, Oron Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Iniko Asukwo Offiong, says militants and sea pirates kidnap and rape women of the community with impunity in the area.
Offiong said pirates and militants have not only turned the women into sex slaves, but were also “demeaning the men.”
He appealed to the state governor, Udom Emmanuel, to come to the rescue of the unfortunate villagers.
“As a village, we have written series of appeal letters to the state and federal governments through the state House of Assembly and National Assembly through our son, Hon. Robinson Awak, alerting government of the lives and property we had lost going for fishing business on the high sea on daily basis.
“Our women, who travel to the fishing terminal on the high sea are always raped and sexually harassed, some die in the process or come home to die days after undergoing unimaginable dehumanizing experiences in the hands of militants and sea pirates.
“My people are dying daily from pirates attacks and hunger. We do not have land to grow crops, everywhere is water, no forest for logging, we depend only on the high sea for food, but sadly, sea robbers have taken over the sea, leaving my people without hope of survival,” he said.
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