Chairman of Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, Erastus Awortu, PhD has pledged to partner with the traditional institution of Finima Community in Bonny Local Government Area to reduce the menace of insecurity along the Andoni-Bonny waterways. 

Dr Awortu made the pledge on Friday, January 12, 2024 during a courtesy visit on the Amadabo-in-Council of Finima Aseme Alabo Dagogo Lambert Brown on his way to condole with families of victims of the recent boat mishap along the Bonny River.

The incident, which occurred on Monday, January 8, 2024 claimed eleven lives who are indigenes of Andoni LGA but residing in Lighthouse, Agiokolo I and Agiokolo II in Finima Community.

He said insecurity affects everyone in the society regardless of status, explaining that this informed his administration’s decision to place premium on issues of security since he assumed office.

Awortu assured that he will work in synergy with his counterpart in Bonny LGA and the traditional leadership of Finima Community as well as security agencies to continuously improve on security along the Andoni-Bonny waterways.

“I know we have heard a few security issues which has been my priority since I became Council Chairman to ensure that our waterways are safe, because a lot of criminals operate on their own volition.”

“Before you know it, it would be attached to community or ethnicity coloration which is not very proper because we are all victims of insecurity, the fishermen, landlords, indigenes and non-indigenes are all victims.”

“I pledge that we will continue to work together to ensure that the menace of insecurity is reduced and that our people continue to live in peace and go about their lawful businesses along the waterways without let or hindrance”.

The Andoni Council Boss also asserted that as riverine people, Andoni and Bonny share a common historical background in trade and culture.

He thanked the Amadabo and good people of Finima Community for providing peaceful and conducive atmosphere for the people of Andoni to cohabit and do their businesses.

“Our people have been living and fishing in Finima for ages, we have never had complaints. This confirms what we all know that the people of Bonny, Finima, in particular, are hospitable to the people of Andoni.”

“I can see and attest to the fact that our people are very happy living and doing their businesses in Finima. Some of them have decided to be part of Finima and do not want to come back home because they have found comfort and a place like home here.”

The Andoni Council Chairman Erastus Awortu also described the boat mishap as an unfortunate disaster.

He commended his counterpart in Bonny LGA as well as the traditional leadership of Finima Community for their prompt response to the incident and the empathy shown to the affected families.

Awortu said his visit to Finima was to meet with the affected Families, condole with them and properly collate their names with a view to extending some financial aid and other form of support to them to mitigate their plight.   

On his part the, the Amadabo of Finima, Aseme Alabo Dagogo Lambert Brown also bemoaned the boat mishap describing it as very unfortunate.

He said the traditional leadership of the community has commenced move to give some form of support to the bereaved Families to ameliorate their pain as no amount of financial support can bring back the dead.

“It is a very unfortunate incident that happened; these were people that spent Christmas in Finima and decided to visit their home but never returned. They are our itinerant fishermen that have been with us for decades and centuries.”

“We have been living peacefully with them, as you mentioned some of them have decided to be part of us because freedom of association is a fundamental right in Nigeria.”

“So long as we have peace of mind wherever we found ourselves, we can cohabit there and do our businesses peaceably.”

“God has a way of healing wounds. It is only God that can heal the wound created by this boat disaster.”

“As a Council we have decided to see what level of good support we can give to the affected families. We have told them to liaise with the caretaker committees in the affected communities so we can reach out to them in our little way.”  

“No amount of support or money can bring back the dead but as humans it is necessary that we do the needful to ameliorate their plight while praying that God grant them the fortitudes to bear the irreparable lost”.

In the Andoni LGA Chairman’s delegation were the Paramount Ruler of Agwut-Obolo Community in Andoni LGA; Okan-Ama Alfred Otobo-Alama III, Chairman of Andoni Community in Bonny/Finima; Gladday Mkpam, Secretary to the Andoni Local Government Council; Dimiary Franklin, Head of Andoni Traders Association in Creek Road Market, Henrietta Mbatumu, and Dr. Famba Daniel, amongst others.