Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A growing crisis is unfolding in the coastal communities of Cross River State, where hundreds of artisanal fishermen say they are being systematically locked out of the very waterways that have sustained their families for generations. The fishermen have raised the alarm over what they describe as a coordinated takeover of local rivers by armed Fulani men and foreign fishermen, who they allege have bought or leased large sections of the waterways to conduct commercial fishing operations, effectively barring locals from accessing their traditional fishing grounds.
The fishermen, speaking from Nsidung beach in Calabar South Local Government Area, expressed deep frustration and anger that their livelihoods are being destroyed while authorities look the other way. One fisherman, Ani Eteyen, who has been fishing for three decades, told journalists that the foreign fishermen often reach agreements with local community leaders to seal off certain portions of the rivers for extended periods. "Sometimes they pay local leaders to fish for as long as three months. During this time, we the local fishermen won't be allowed to go near such areas," Eteyen alleged.
The issue was discussed extensively on Thursday during a phone-in programme on FAD FM, a Calabar-based private radio station, where callers condemned the activities of the Fulani men and their foreign collaborators. A local chief from Eniong Abatim in Odukpani Local Government Area, who identified himself as Ita Cobham, provided further details of the alleged exploitation. He explained that the foreigners would install their fishing nets across massive stretches of water, extending from the Itu bridge in Akwa Ibom State to far-flung coastal communities in Calabar, effectively cordoning off miles of river without any form of authorisation. "They sometimes forcibly fix their nets in these long stretches of water to catch sea foods, including fishes, despite cries from local authorities," Cobham said.
The chief claimed that each haul from these operations could fetch as much as N8 million, a staggering sum that highlights the commercial scale of the illegal fishing activities. However, he lamented that the foreign fishermen do not sell their seafood in local markets, thereby contributing to food insecurity in the state. "Additional pain is that they don't sell these seafoods in local markets, thereby contributing to the food insecurity in the state," Cobham said, urging authorities to ensure that fishing in local waters follows legal processes to avert impending clashes between local fishermen and the illegal operators.
Reacting to the development, Cross River State Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation System, Johnson Ebokpo Jr., expressed surprise at the allegations and assured that the matter would be investigated. "I'm aware that foreigners, including Ghanaians, do commercial fishing in the Escravos, Bonny waters in Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta states. But if such fishing activities extend into our local waters, we will certainly investigate," Ebokpo said.
The commissioner's assurance, however, has done little to calm the fears of the fishermen, who are growing increasingly desperate as their ability to provide for their families dwindles. The crisis is the latest in a series of challenges facing fishing communities in Cross River State, which have also grappled with oil pollution, sea piracy, and the imposition of illegal taxes by armed groups operating in the creeks. In May 2026, the Nigerian Navy imposed a 13-hour curfew on the Calabar waterways as part of efforts to curb kidnapping and other criminal activities along the Calabar-Oron channel, further restricting the movement of fishermen.
For the fishermen of Cross River, the loss of access to their traditional fishing grounds is not just an economic issue—it is a threat to their very existence. As one fisherman put it, "These waters are our lives. Without them, we have nothing."
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