A/Ibom, Cross River communities count losses from border clashes
Since the boundary clash between Oku-Iboku community in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State and Ikot Offiong community in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State intensified last year, many lives have been lost and property worth millions of naira destroyed.
For years now, tension has been heightening between both sides over who occupies the fishing area and waterline. Upon the stern refusal by either community to yield, crisis broke out and deteriorated last year. Light and heavy weapons such as machine guns and grenades, as well as speedboats, were used during the crisis.
There have been casualties on both sides since the crisis turned bloody, but Akwa Ibom communities have reportedly suffered heavy losses in increasing attacks recently. Apart from the deaths, injuries and the destruction of property, thousands of people have also been displaced from their homes.
Farmlands, farm produce, growing crops and other food items have been lost to the crisis, while fishing activities, trading and general commercial activities have been badly weakened or even truncated in several areas.
Moreover, motorists and commuters along the Calabar-Itu highway were always trapped and delayed for hours until the arrival of security operatives to clear the road and ensure free flow of traffic.
Also, the crisis has spread from Oku-Iboku to other communities and local government areas along the coastal areas in the state. Some of the villages also affected are Obot Oku; Ikot Etim Ama; Ufak Oku Iboku; Esen Ikot Esia; Esik Essien, Nta Ikan; Bokondo, among others.
This year, clashes have occurred every month. In some instances, it occurred two to three times in a month.
However, there were times when the clashes were checked and attackers repelled by a combined team of soldiers and anti-riot policemen.
The latest two successive attacks, which took place between April 21 and 30, claimed the lives of over 70 people. The security operatives were said to be unable to contain the attackers, who were alleged to have operated from Ikot Offiong. The first attack, where about 20 persons lost their lives, occurred in Oku-Iboku, while the second one, which claimed over 50 lives, happened in fishing settlements in Akpan Mfrekim community of Akan Obio, Uruan Local Government Area.
Speaking on the attack, a native of OkuIboku, Dr. Demson Ekong, told newsmen in Uyo that some of those killed included women and children, and that nine corpses of fishermen were recovered while other corpses could not be accounted for.
“The attackers came to our area and killed many fishermen, women and girls who were returning from farms. We recovered many corpses, including those of nine fishermen. The attackers mounted machine guns on their speedboats and shot sporadically at their targets.
“The soldiers guarding the border between Akwa Ibom and Cross River states could not contain the hoodlums. It was after some hours that they called for reinforcement. During the time of reinforcement, the boys were still firing for over 30 minutes before they finally fled,’’ he said.
Dr Ekong noted that apart from those killed, the attackers also took away seven persons alive to a fishing settlement near Ibom Le’ Meridien Hotel in Uruan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom and burnt down the entire settlement.
Regarding the second recent attack, the chairman of Uruan Local Government Area, Dr. Edwin Okon, said the protracted crisis had forced many people to flee and seek refuge elsewhere, adding that farming and fishing, which are the major sources of livelihood for the people, have been seriously affected.
He called for the intervention of security agencies to maintain peace within the affected waterfronts.
He also appealed to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and other relevant agencies to assist in resettling the displaced people of the area.
Recounting their ordeal, a native of OkuIboku, who simply identified herself as Uduak, said she had lost many friends and relatives since the crisis escalated.
“We are now living in fear because of the crisis. I have lost several friends and relatives. Our properties have also been destroyed. Apart from the killings, our farms produce have also been destroyed and others stolen. Many people have fled their homes, just as many others have been destroyed.
“Now, people are afraid to either go fishing or farming, as well as carry out other business activities. Generally, life has been affected and things are no longer the same. They just want to forcefully take our waterfront and fishing settlements/ports away from us,” Uduak said.
On the cause of the crisis, Uduak said the people of Oku-Iboku accommodated Ikot Offiong people, who migrated to their area as fishermen many years ago, but thereafter wanted to take over their land. Oku-Iboku people stopped them, she added.
“Having understood the settlers’ intention, our people decided to drive them away from the fishing communities. That was the beginning of the hostilities that have claimed many lives and properties worth millions of naira,’’ Uduak further said.
In his reaction to the renewed hostilities, Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State cautioned the youth against taking laws into their hands. During his visit to the affected area, the governor sympathised with the people and enjoined the youth to toe the path of peace. He advised them to cooperate with security operatives drafted to the area to protect lives and property.
Udom, who was accompanied by the Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State command, Donald Awunah and the commandant of 2Brigade, Brigadier-General Abdullahi Hassan, assured the people of safety.
He charged the people of Itu Local Government Area not to engage in any form of hostility, saying that he and Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State were making efforts to resolve the crisis amicably.
In his remark, the chairman of Oku-Iboku Community Clan Council, Comrade Ability Peter, appreciated the governor for his visit to the troubled area, noting that the gesture had restored their confidence in government.
He said although many people had been killed, the deaths would have been more if not for the swift response of security agencies.
Peter assured the governor and security operatives that they would maintain peace and go about their normal businesses.
Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police Awunah, said he had ordered his men to deploy gunboats and marine police to patrol the fishing communities of Oku- Iboku and Uruan. He added that the police would stop at nothing to ensure that people’s lives and property were protected in the state.
He urged the public to always volunteer information on any kind of threat to lives and property, as well as other criminal activities within their neighbourhoods. He warned criminal elements to refrain from taking laws into their hands.