From INIOBONG SUNDAY, Uyo
Elders and leaders of coastal communities in Ibeno Local Government Area have condemned the invasion of their land by armed hoodlums.
It was gathered that no fewer than 12 persons sustained varying degrees of injury in a renewed communal attack on Inua Eyet Ikot village, allegedly by invaders from neighbouring Eket Local Government Area.
The attack, according to some residents, occurred in the early hours of Friday at about 1:30am with five, who were shot and wounded, currently receiving treatment at the Cottage Hospital at Upenekang, headquarters of Ibeno Local Government Area.
An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity recalled that Mr Daniel Asuquo, popularly known as “Dan Baba,” was one of the victims caught in the crossfire while trying to escape.
His residence and that of others, along with property worth millions of naira were vandalised and set ablaze, forcing the rest of the community to seek refuge in churches and relatives homes outside the community.
“At about 1:30am on Friday, we heard gunshots in our community and we immediately alerted the police who mobilised to rescue us.
“The police team arrived, but the attackers had escaped. A search was conducted and one of the victims, Asuquo was seen lying in a pool of his blood. He was immediately evacuated to a nearby health facility.
“This is the fifth time that Ibeno has been attacked by Eket and Esit Eket Local Government Areas in recent time,” another eyewitness and member of the community’s vigilante group narrated.
“This recent attack has added a fresh layer of concern for peace and security in Ibeno, which produces 80 percent of oil revenue to the Akwa Ibom State government and the centre.
“We view this as a continuation of the unresolved hostilities and tensions between communities in Ibeno and Eket, often linked to long-standing feud,” another victim, currently taking refuge in the neighbouring Eastern Obolo Local Government Area, added.
The Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, who confirmed the attack, assured that efforts are ongoing to track down the perpetrators with a view to bring them to justice.
The commissioner vowed that no stone would be left unturned in fishing out the suspects, as operatives had since been deployed.
