UNKNOWN gunmen on have attacked Norfin Offshore Shipyard in the boundary shoreline of Ikot Ukpong in Oruk Anam Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom.
Eyewitnesses told journalists on Monday that the unknown gunmen attacked the shipyard at about 5am in the early hours of Monday morning.
According to witnesses, the gunmen shot sporadically to scare security workers around the site before unleashing explosives into the multimillion naira dredging facility of the company.
The Chairman, Norfin Offshore Shipyard Ltd, Mr Iniekong Udonwa confirmed the incident to newsmen at the scene of the attack.
He said the huge damage was done to facilities at the shipyard by the unknown gunmen suspected to be militants, adding that the gunmen came into the shipyard, shot sporadically at staff on duty who fled for their lives while bullet marks were seen on parts of the building.
The unknown gunmen said the shipyard cannot start any business of the government of Akwa Ibom without settling.
“They kept telling our staff to tell the government of Akwa Ibom to reach out to them since they are in charge of both Rivers and Akwa Ibom. They demanded for N20 million, Where do they expect me to get N20 million for them after destroying our machine worth N60 million in the shipyard,” Udonwa said.
He said that the incident had discouraged him greatly as it had affected expansion activities, causing the management to strongly consider taking the investment elsewhere.
Udonwa said that the project was borne out of his desire to contribute to the development of the state by providing employment opportunities for her teeming youths.
He said: “Ín the last count, over 100 people work at the Shipyard with four staff person from Rivers. I am appealing for prompt intervention from the state government to forestall recurrence of the ugly incident.
Some policemen led by the area Divisional Police Officer, Kelechi Amadi, were at the site when journalists visited the scene but thev declined comment on the issue.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Odiko Macdon, assured that he would comment on the matter once he was briefed by the DPO of the area.
Meanwhile, the inauguration of the nine metre MV Swift Security vessel billed for Jan. 30 at the shipyard haf been put on hold,
Management said the decision to postpone the date of the launch was regrettable.
