178-year-old slave boat confiscated by natives unveiled in Akwa-Ibom

The Akwa Ibom State government has unveiled a historic slave boat, 178 years after it was seized from slave traders by enraged locals in Nwaniba, Uruan Local Government Area, during a guerilla warfare.

The slave boat was presented to the public yesterday at Marina Beach in Uyo, the state capital, in collaboration with the National Association of Akwa Ibom, NAAKIBOM, USA.

During the event, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Charles Udoh, stated, "The slave boat is believed to have traveled from Liverpool and arrived in Nwaniba, Uruan LGA, in 1846, where the slave traders had settled to engage in their illicit activities."

“The slave boat was confiscated from the slave masters by the natives of a coastal community of Nwaniba in Uruan LGA of the state towards the end of the slave trade era in the world.

“Irked by the excruciating pains of slavery and the inhuman treatment of the slave masters, the angry natives confiscated the slave boat in a guerilla warfare.

“This is one of the remaining relics of the colonial masters slave business in Akwa Ibom State and it is located at the Marina Beach.”

He disclosed that the slave boat restoration and preservation project was funded by investors brought in by NAAKIBOM, USA.

He expressed appreciation to NAAKIBOM for partnering state government in the promotion of tourism in the state, and solicited same partnership from other Akwa Ibom groups in the diaspora.

“Akwa Ibom is endowed with virgin untapped tourism potentials across the length and breadth of the state, the longest coastline in the region, of 129km and tourist sites with historical perspectives beckoning on investors,” Udoh added.