Akwa Ibom Unveils 178-Year-Old Slave Boat Confiscated by Natives

The Akwa Ibom State government has unveiled a historic slave boat, 178 years after it was seized from slave masters by local residents in a guerilla warfare. The unveiling took place at Marina Beach in Uyo, the state capital, in collaboration with the National Association of Akwa Ibom, NAAKIBOM, USA.

The Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Charles Udoh, speaking at the event, revealed that the slave boat had originally voyaged from Liverpool and arrived at Nwaniba in Uruan Local Government Area in 1846. The boat’s presence marked the involvement of slave masters in the region’s dark history of human trafficking.

According to Udoh, the boat was confiscated by the natives of Nwaniba, a coastal community, during a rebellion fueled by the unbearable conditions and brutal treatment under slavery. This daring act of resistance occurred towards the end of the global slave trade era.

“This slave boat stands as one of the last remaining relics of the colonial era’s slave trade in Akwa Ibom State,” Udoh noted, emphasizing its significance as a symbol of both the region’s painful past and its resilience.

The restoration and preservation of the boat was made possible through funding from investors brought in by NAAKIBOM, USA. Udoh expressed his gratitude to NAAKIBOM for their role in promoting tourism in the state and called on other Akwa Ibom groups in the diaspora to engage in similar partnerships.

“Akwa Ibom is rich in untapped tourism potential, boasting the longest coastline in the region at 129km, and numerous historical sites. These present significant opportunities for investors,” Udoh added.