The people of Inua Eyet Ikot Community in Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have deserted the area following a midnight attack by suspected hoodlums from neighbouring communities.
It was gathered that during the midnight attack which occurred on Saturday, schools, a community clinic and other public utilities worth millions of naira were destroyed.
The Village Council Chairman of Inua Eyet Ikot, Chief Nta Edyang while conducting journalists round the community to witness the destruction carried out by the attackers, accused their Esit Eket neighbours as the prime suspects for the mayhem unleashed on them .
Edyang explained that though there was no human casualty recorded, the property destroyed is estimated at over N100million.
“On Saturday, we were woken up to the invasion from our Esit Eket neighbours at midnight with massive attacks on our farms, clinic, schools and people’s homes which were all brought down to rubble.
“The Invaders came at midnight well armed and people fled to the bushes, from where they heard the.invading hoodlums using sledge hammers and other destructive equipment to destroy properties we laboured to build to foundation level,” the community leader stated.
The small oil and gas rich Inua Eyet Ikot community in Ibeno hosts the ExxonMobilQua iboe terminal facility and BUA’s petrolchemical factory under construction in its domain.
Edyang said the reason for the latest attack is not unconnected with the ongoing petrochemical refinery project being built in the community by the BUA Group.
He said the neighbouring community is claiming ownership of the land on which the village sits on, disclosing that the village attackers hoisted a flag with the inscription, ” Ibeno beware, we won’t tolerate your conspiracy with the state government to take our land”.
Paramount Ruler of Ibeno, Effiong Achianga while reacting to the incidentz traced the attacks on Ibeno communities to the enormous natural deposits in the area .
Achianga maintained that Ibeno is blessed with oil and gas deposits which the entire Akwa Ibom State benefits from, adding that peace is needed.for communities to coexist as his people will not tolerate further aggression from their neighbours.
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“All the areas they are laying claims to belong to us. If the attacks persist, we will defend ourselves, we are warriors. I have appealed to Ibeno youths to remain calm. I am appealing to the elders, council chairmen of our neighboring council areas to call their youths to order”.
The paramount ruler also appealed to the state government to intervene and bring succour to the destroyed community to assuage the feelings of those whose properties were destroyed and encourage the healing process.
“Government must not allow the repeat of what happened.anf more security agents should be deployed to Ibeno communities to protect lives and property while the hoodlums must be apprehended to face the full wrath of the law,” he added.
Confirming the incident, the Akwa Ibom State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Timfon John said the state police command has received the report of the destruction in Inua Eyet Ikot community.
He stated that the state police command has commenced investigations into the matter.
