Suspected militants have attacked facilities at the new Norfin Offshore Shipyard in the boundary shoreline of Ikot Ukpong in Oruk Anam of Akwa Ibom state.
It was gathered that the militants destroyed machines worth over N60 million.
It was learnt that the armed men arrived at the yard at about 5 am on Monday shooting sporadically to scare off security workers around the site before unleashing their explosives into the multimillion naira dredging facility of the company.
Briefing journalists at the shipyard, chairman, Norfin Offshore Shipyard Ltd, Engr. Iniekong Charles Udonwa, lamented the huge damage done to facilities at the shipyard by the suspected militant group from Ogoni part of Rivers state.
According to Udonwa, they came into the shipyard and shot sporadically as staff on duty fled for their lives, leaving bullet marks on parts of the building.
He said, “They said we cannot start any business if the government of Akwa Ibom does not settle them.
“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 states. Where do they expect me to get N20m for them after destroying our facilities worth N60 million?”
He reiterated that the incident had discouraged him greatly as it has affected expansion activities, causing him to strongly consider taking the investment elsewhere.
The Chairman said it was borne out of his desire to contribute to the development of the State by providing employment opportunities for her teeming youths.
At the last count he said, over 100 staff were working at the shipyard with four of those from neighbouring Rivers state.
Engr. Udonwa appealed for a prompt intervention from the State government to forestall a recurrence of the ugly incident.
