Exclusive: Kidnapped trader shares her ordeal in Niger Delta creek

Piracy has continued in Nigeria’s maritime areas with sea bandits targeting waterways and coastal communities. Artisanal fishers in the Niger Delta area and traders plying the Nigeria-Cameroon corridor frequently fall victim to attacks.

While increased security measures have reduced attacks on large commercial fishing vessels – bringing reported piracy incidents in Nigerian waters down from 48 in 2018 to six in 2021, according to the International Maritime Bureau – local fishers say they are now being targeted. Most incidents appear concentrated in Akwa Ibom state.

The attacks have led to deaths, seizure of boats’ engines – each costing up to ₦3 million – and disruptions to maritime businesses. Fishing communities in Ibaka (Mbo LGA), Ukpenekang (Ibeno LGA), Atabong (Okobo LGA) and other coastal areas of Akwa Ibom State have been particularly hard-hit.

Security forces have not been spared either. In January, pirates dressed in military camouflage ambushed a police marine patrol along the Oron-Calabar waterways, leaving one officer missing and two others injured. Police spokesperson Timfon John said the attack took place at about 1:00 PM.

Beyond fishers, traders and commuters who rely on waterways to reach coastal communities and Cameroon are also at risk. Many now avoid these routes, choosing instead to endure poor road conditions rather than risk encountering armed pirates.

One trader kidnapped while traveling the Nigeria-Cameroon corridor, endured months in captivity on a remote island. In an exclusive interview with Pluboard, she shares her harrowing experience. This interview was conducted in 2023.

Good afternoon, how are you?

I am fine, thank you.

Kindly tell us about yourself.

My name is Glory Ikpemme, I’m from Cross River state but currently staying in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state. I am a businesswoman.

Thank you. We have learned that you were among the victims who were kidnapped last year by some gangs in the Ibaka Sea of Mbo Local Government.

Yes, it’s true, I was kidnapped.

Could you tell us what really happened?

Well, I am a trader. As a trader, I usually go to the border between Cameroon and Nigeria to buy dry fish and sell at Oron market.

So on that fateful day, first week of September last year, we boarded a boat from Ibaka seaport, 20 minutes after take-off, the boat began to slow down, the man in charge started saying that the engine was faulty, his behaviour seemed suspicious, before we realized what was happening, two other boats filled with gunmen blocked us and paraded us down to their creek, being their base.

We got there, we were offloaded and taken to a small batcha (Kiosk). They kept us there without saying anything. After three to four hours, one man came, masked, and with a sophisticated gun.

He advised us to be calm, assuring that if we cooperated, everyone would leave there alive, but if anyone wants to prove stubborn, they have graveyards for all sizes of people.

He pointed at one woman and said “Madam, see your mate’s graveyard, “na me pai them (I killed them).”

He left after addressing us, and we remained like that throughout the day, no one spoke to us again.

At what time did this happen, and were you given food that day?

This thing happened around 2:45 in the afternoon. Immediately after his address with us, he left and all through the day, we did not eat anything, they left us there and went for another operation.

Later they returned with food items like rice, garri, and other things.

Were there guards left to watch over you and the others?

They had some people that guarded the place all through, those ones don’t go out with them for any operations.

So, tell us about feeding while you were there.

In the morning, they would give a handful of garri to each person, ask us to put inside bottled water container, add water and shake it, this served as our breakfast every morning.

In the afternoon, they provided us bread, and, in the evening, nothing will be given to us. They managed to prepare funny okra soup for like three to four times, after preparing the soup, they put in a big basin and asked all of us to eat together from the basin.

How did they contact your family members?

They collected all our phones, tied them to an antenna, one after the other in order to have network, then asked us to call our family members. Remember, it’s creek, so there is no network there.

However, I did not call my people because I knew if I told my father, his blood pressure might go up, and he may die. And my sister too was pregnant then, so I did not want her to think much in order to avoid complications.

How did they react when you did not call anyone?

Nothing, maybe because we came as a group, so they did not stress that I must call someone. I just stayed there, hoping that one day they will just let us go.

So how long were you there, and how did help eventually arrive for you all?

We spent three weeks in that place. They called our market union people in both Cameroon and Nigeria and demanded N5 million for each person, before then, they had already emptied our accounts. All the money I had was collected by them.

Unfortunately for me, during that period, someone that had been owing me for many months decided to send the money to me, about N150,000; they collected everything.

Sorry about that. Considering the poor environment and feeding during your captivity, I believe there were health situations among you. How did you manage that aspect?

Well, surprisingly, none of us fell sick throughout the period. The only person that fell sick was one white man, so they normally bought drugs for him.

Was there any instance of sexual harassment?

No, there was nothing like that. They were very careful in that aspect, maybe because of their charms. I remember how some of them would tell me “Don’t come close to me so you won’t spoil my charm please”. So, they did not harass us sexually.

We heard that some money was paid before they agreed to release you all, do you know where that came from?

According to what I heard when I came out, the union people in the Cameroon pleaded and bargained price with them. Everyone in the union contributed N10,000 each; we were 27 people and the demanded N5 million for each of us, but the union people were able to bargain to N14 million for the release of everybody.

They said the Cameroonian government supported with N8 million, I heard so when I came out.

Really sad. How did you get into fish business?

A friend of mine introduced me into the business in 2021 when things were rough with me. I started with selling fruits in the coastal areas, before moving to fish trading, after recording a massive loss in the fruit business. I started with N50,000 and then grew from there.

How was the fish business before the abduction came up, was it profitable?

Yes, it was profitable.

After the experience with the kidnappers, will you still continue with the business?

Hmmm, you know before now, I had the first loss that I was yet to recover, this one came again. So even though I will continue with the business, I won’t do it the same way.

I suffered three different losses. The post-harvest loss, the experience with the kidnappers and the health challenges. The last health issue (severe cold) made me to spend everything I had and still borrow from people for my treatment.

So currently, I don’t even have capital to do the business, I’m owing a lot now.

So currently what do you do?

I don’t do anything. Sometimes, I go and assist my cousin in her shop. She has small provisions shop. My personal business is gone, no capital to go on again and feeding now is difficult for me. I have two younger relatives that are depending on me. Their mum and dad are late.

If there is capital, do you wish to go back to the same fish business?

I will go back but in a different way. I would not like to travel always to get fish, rather, I will do more of waybills for the fish.

How did you handle the trauma of being abducted?

Yes, sure, but I was able to move on after some months. People keep saying that I am a strong person, I will say maybe because I have encountered many situations in life. So, I was just ok, after the shock, I was able to move with my life.

Would you advise other young people to go into the same line of business?

I will encourage them and at the same time, I will tell them about the risk involved in the business.

Do you think government can do anything to reduce this security challenges?

Definitely, government can improve the security architecture of waterways across the country. Provide more security men in the water for businesspeople to do their businesses without fear.

Alright. Thank you for creating time to speak with Pluboard.