Dynamite fishing rocks Murray Town & Aberdeen
Residents in the coastal communities of Murray Town and Aberdeen are in jeopardy of ceaseless blasting by fishermen indulged in the illegal activity of dynamite fishing. (Photo: Emma Kowa: Fishing Minister)
The practice has life-threatening effects on residents and has caused infrastructural damages in the two communities. An affected resident disclosed that several complaints made by community members to the authorities fell on deaf ears.
“Despite the illegality of the practice and complaints made to the police and navy, the blasting has continued at increasing proportions by the day”, a desperate-looking community member told Sierra Express Media.
In addition to the severity of the cracks caused by the impact of the blasting on buildings and damages caused on electronic equipment in residential homes and offices in the vicinity, hyper-tension patients are also in danger of sudden death.
A resident of Aberdeen intimated that a critical infrastructure that has been severely affected by the devastating blasts is the Aberdeen Bridge, linking the mainland to Aberdeen, where a chain of high-class hotels and restaurants are located.
“A middle age woman had to be rushed to hospital following a thunderous blast in the early morning hours of the day” disclosed John Tarawalie, a community figurehead.
He further said that community members were under constant threat of violent physical attacks by the fishermen, led by one Umaru, if the former dared speak out or complain.
“Community people are afraid to speak out in opposition to this illegal and destructive fishing method due to the serious threats made on their lives by the dynamite fishermen”, said John.
The lukewarm attitude of the police and navy in dealing with complaints cast a shadow of doubt on their integrity and innocence.
A community source alleged that the dynamite fishermen enjoy some amount of protection and that so-called caretakers of unfinished buildings in the neighborhood are in connivance with the fishermen.
By Emmanuel M. Kamara
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