From Isaac Job, Uyo
The people of Inua Eyet Ikot Community in Ibeno local government area of Akwa Ibom state have deserted the area following midnight attack by suspected hoodlums from neighbouring communities.
Daily Sun gathered that during the midnight attack which occurred on Saturday schools, 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 wreckage in the community 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, property destroyed was estimated at over N100m .
According to him, ” Last night , 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 rubbles.
” The Invaders came at midnight well armed and people fled to the bushes, from where they hear them using sledge hammers and other destructive equipment to destroy properties we laboured to build to foundation level.”
The small oil and gas rich Inua Eyet Ikot community in Ibeno hosts the ExxonMobil Mobil Qua iboe terminal facility and also have BUA’s petrol chemical factory under construction in their domain.
Edyang said reason for the latest attack was not unconnected with ongoing petrochemical refinery project built in the community by BUA group.
He said the hoodlums claimed that the village is their land and even hosted a flag after the destruction with inscription ” Ibeno beware, we won’t tolerate your conspiracy with state government to take our land”.
The Paramount Ruler of Ibeno Owong Effiong Achianga while reacting to the incident traced the attack in Ibeno Communities to the enormous natural resources deposit in the area .
Achianga maintained that Ibeno is blessed with oil and gas which the entire Akwa Ibom state benefit from on their wealth adding that peace was needed to coexist as his people will not tolerate further aggression from their neighbours.
” All the areas, they are laying claims 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 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 and others earlier torched by the hoodlums to assuage their feelings and encourage the healing process”.
” Government should replace the damaged property and help the displaced people recover from the shock of the atrocities.
“Government must not allow the 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 wrath of the law.”