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B N W: Biafra Nigeria World News |
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17 persons, N25m fishing tools lost to pirates in Ondo JAMES SOWOLE, Akure NO fewer than 17 persons,mostly fishermen werekilled and fishing equipment worth about N25 million were lost in the last two years in the creeks of Ugbo in the Ilaje Local Government of Ondo State following pirates� attacks. A delegation of traditional council of Baales, Aghoro eghare and Dosun of Ugbo Kingdom, who made this known to Governor Olusegun Agagu during a visit, lamented that the deep ocean fishermen suffered a lot in the hands of the pirates who, they alleged, were coming from Delta State. While commending Agagu for moves that culminated in naval patrol boats on the high seas, chairman and spokesman of the delegation, Chief Victor Shedara, solicited for permanent naval stations in and around strategic locations within the affected areas of Ugboland. "It is our belief that such stations will respond very swiftly to distress calls within the area and from troubled fishermen in high seas," Shedara stated. Ahead of next year�s census, Shedara called on the government to set up a special task force to co-ordinate and ensure the rebuilding of the destroyed Ugbo communities. Shedara said about 69 Ugbo communities were destroyed during the 1998 Ijaw-Ilaje ethnic clash, while 4,779 residential buildings were destroyed. Due to the destruction, the people became displaced in distant lands for several years while their financial wherewithal and booming commerce were destroyed. Shedara said if the people were counted in other places other than Ugboland, they will lose their relevance. For the rebuilding of the houses, he suggested a target of 500 houses for construction per year and Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) directed to concentrate on the reconstruction and rehabili-tation of the residential buildings destroyed in Ugboland. Responding, Agagu stated that he had spoken with President Olusegun Obasanjo on the need for a police-army joint patrol teams of the waterways. He also called on the inhabitants to be vigilant and report any suspicious movement to the security agencies. On the rebuilding of destroyed houses, the governor said government could not build houses for people but could facilitate mortgage loan for people at reduced interest rate payable over a period of time.
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