Morbid Silence: 14 Killed, 100 Injured, 500 Houses Burnt By Armed Youths (PHOTO)

A report by the Vanguard suggests that the Akwa-Ibom state government is indifferent in bringing to book some armed youths, who in August 2008, invaded the peaceful community which is situated in Ukpum Ette clan, Ikot –Abasi local government area of the state.

The irate youths reportedly killed 14 people and razed about 500 houses, leaving scores of innocent people severely wounded.

According to reports, despite the cries of the people for justice in the last eight years, a commission of inquiry which was set-up in 2008, did not submit its report on the incident until 2014, because of sharp disagreements among the members.

The rift in the commission reportedly emboldened the attackers to storm the village again on Sunday, July 12, 2015.

In their second attack, the youths allegedly abducted and murdered 32-year-old Joel Sunday. Sources say the government still did not attack after the second attack.

On Tuesday, January 12, 2016, the gunmen suspected to be from Amazaba community in eastern Obolo local government area of the state struck yet again.

The gunmen razed 20 houses and rendered hundreds of persons injured. As at Monday, January 18, the village head, Ete-Idung Oscar Abel was reported still missing, seven days after the attack.

The invaders burnt about 15 motorcycles and a Jetta Saloon car during the surprise attack at about 2am.

According to the peace/reconciliation and boundary delineation committees, headed by Chief Effiong Eneyo and Surveyor Okokon Esien respectively, the police since 2008 usually arrive at the scene of incident only after the attackers had perpetrated havoc and disappeared. The same scenario which repeated itself at their last raid.

The Niger Delta Voice (NDV) reports that the dispute between the two communities is essentially over land ownership.

The boundary demarcation committee raised by the state government apparently found it difficult to do its work due to certain unverified claims and counter-claims.

Some government officials have perceived interests in the matter and this has made it difficult to get an enduring solution to the crisis.

Youth leader of Ikot Akpan-Udo, Mr Abasi-Okon Etukudoh Etukudoh, expressed grieve over the constant attacks, saying that the latest comes at a time when the community was rebuilding and putting up new structures.

The youth leader blamed the Akwa-Ibom state government for the various attacks and the refugee situation they have been subjected to, saying it has not done anything tangible to bring their assailants to book or to ameliorate their plight. “The delay or refusal by the government to act swiftly and bring the perpetrators of these injurious attacks to book is what has given them the impetus to keep coming around to attack us.”

A leader of Amazaba community, simply identified as Elder Francis, also blamed the Akwa-Ibom State government for the crisis, adding that if government had demarcated the boundary between Amazaba and Ikot-Akpan Udo, the problem would not have escalated.

Elder Francis said his community would continue revolting till the government can look deeply into the demarcations and settle the dispute without partiality.

Meanwhile the state police command says they now have the situation under control. Spokesman for Ikot-Abasi police division, Omini Mathias, told NDV, the police responded to distress calls from the community at about 2am. However, before they could get to Ikot-Akpan Udo, the hoodlums had completed their heinous acts and disappeared.

Mathias said the police and other security outfits were currently on top of the matter to bring the perpetrators to book and possibly end the age-long skirmish.

Spokesman for the state police, Delia Nwawe, corroborated ASP Mathias’ story, saying: “The Nigeria police is for safety of lives and property of citizens. We give priority to these obligations, which is why the Nigeria police, Akwa-Ibom state command, under CP Murtala Mani, has deployed SAS, anti-robbery squad and as a matter of fact police mobile force (PMF), to that community.”

She that If boasted normalcy has returned to the Ikot Akpan Udo community, and people are going about with their lawful and legitimate businesses.