Pirate Attacks Push Nigeria’s Fishers, Traders to the Brink

News in Brief:

-Rising pirate attacks on Nigeria’s artisanal fishers and traders threaten livelihoods and food security despite official claims of safer waters.

-With climate change depleting fish stocks and insecurity increasing, coastal communities are being pushed deeper into poverty and debt.

On Nigeria’s coastline, artisanal fishers and traders are facing growing insecurity as pirates relentlessly attack boats, steal engines, and kidnap workers, worsening an already fragile fishing economy. In Ibaka, Akwa Ibom State, one of Nigeria’s largest fishing communities, locals say piracy has become a routine hazard. “It is like working for the criminals,” said 51-year-old fisher, Ita James, who has lost two boat engines in two years. Many like him are now working as hired hands, unable to recover from repeated losses.

The attacks, often carried out by armed men in speedboats, have left hundreds stranded at sea. Victims report being robbed of engines worth up to ₦5 million, money, fish, and even their lives. Despite official reports of improved maritime security, local fishers and traders insist that small-scale operators remain unprotected.

Unreported Attacks and Silent Losses

While authorities claim piracy in Nigeria’s waters has declined from 35 incidents in 2020 to just one in 2024, artisanal fishers tell a different story. Community leaders say attacks now target local fishers instead of large vessels, leaving hundreds of families without livelihoods. “There is hardly a week that someone has not been attacked,” said Chief Okon Ukutuda, a local fishermen’s union leader.

In many cases, victims are kidnapped and held for ransom. Women traders, who form nearly 25% of Nigeria’s fishing workforce, are frequent targets during cross-border trade trips. Survivors describe weeks in captivity, forced payments, and complete loss of savings.

Climate Change and Declining Stocks

Beyond piracy, environmental pressures are deepening the crisis. Scientists say rising sea temperatures and overfishing have pushed fish stocks farther offshore, forcing artisanal fishers to travel longer distances and straight into pirate zones. According to the University of Uyo’s Fisheries Department, fish populations are declining as warming waters alter breeding cycles. This has made artisanal fishing a ₦1.1 trillion industry supporting 24 million Nigerians, both riskier and less profitable.

No Help in Sight

Despite protests, communities say little has changed. Both the Navy and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) maintain that the waters are secure, focusing on oil and cargo vessel protection while overlooking small-scale fishers.

In desperation, some fishers now pay up to ₦80,000 monthly as “protection fees” to armed groups, ensuring temporary safety at sea. “If they don’t pay, they can’t go to fish,” said a fisher in Ibeno.

As the crisis persists, Nigeria risks losing one of its most vital sources of local protein and income. For many coastal families, the sea, once a source of life, has become a source of fear.