The Inua Eyet Ikot Community in the Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State has been deserted after a midnight attack last weekend in which property worth millions of naira was destroyed by suspected hoodlums from their neighbouring Esit Eket Council Area.
The small oil and gas-rich Inua Eyet Ikot community in Ibeno hosts the ExxonMobil Qua Iboe Terminal facility and also has BUA’s petrol chemical factory under construction in their domain.
Conducting journalists around the terribly damaged schools, clinics and people’s homes Saturday, the emeritus village council chairman, Chief Nta Edyang, lamented that the damaged buildings, farms and other facilities were valued at over 100 million naira.
According to him, “A couple of days ago, we were woken up to the invasion from our Esit Eket neighbours at midnight with massive attacks on our farms, clinics, schools and people’s homes, which were all brought down to rubbles.
“The invaders came at midnight well armed, and people fled to the bushes, from where they heard them using sledgehammers and other destructive equipment to destroy properties we laboured to build to foundation level.
“The sole reason for the latest attack is not unconnected with the ongoing petrochemical factory project that is being built in our community by the BUA group. The hoodlums claimed our village was their land and even hoisted a flag after the destruction written, “Ibeno, beware, we won’t tolerate your conspiracy with the state government to take our land.”
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He further revealed, “We have reported the matter to the State Police Commissioner, who visited the area in the company of other security agencies to see the level of damage and appealed to us to remain calm while an investigation is ongoing.
Also speaking to journalists after the tour of the affected area, the Paramount Ruler of Ibeno Local Government Area, Owong (Prof.) Effiong Archianga, traced the genesis of the serial attacks in Ibeno communities to the enormous natural resources deposited in their domain.
According to the paramount ruler, “Ibeno is blessed with oil and gas; the entire state is enjoying our wealth; we need peace to coexist and will not tolerate further aggression from our neighbours.
“All the areas, they are laying claim to belong to us; if the attack persists, we will defend ourselves; we are warriors and Obollo people. I have appealed to Ibeno youths to remain calm. I am appealing to elders, council chairmen of our neighbouring council areas, to call their youths to order.”
The Paramount ruler appealed to the state government to intervene and bring succour to the destroyed community and others earlier burnt down to assuage their feelings and encourage the healing process.”
“The government should replace the damaged property and help the displaced people recover from the shock of the atrocities. The government must not allow a repeat of what happened; more security should be deployed to Ibeno communities to protect lives and property, while the hoodlums must be apprehended to face the full weight of the law.”
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Reporters also gathered that the state government, in conjunction with security agencies, has visited the affected area for further investigations and that the chairman of the Ibeno Local Government Area, Mrs. Glory Ekah Effiong, and her Esit Eket counterpart, Mrs. Uduak Ikemesit Ikott, are working round the clock to ensure that permanent peace reigns between the two neighbouring councils.
Obong Dennis Bassey Esenem, the village head of the Mkpanak community in Ibeno, who expressed hope that the crisis will be permanently resolved, acknowledged the determination of both female Council Chairmen to restore peace to the area.
