Again, Inua Eyet Ikot-2, a community in Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, was thrown into chaos, following a violent attack by suspected hoodlums from neighbouring Eket and Esit Eket Local Government Areas.
The attack is said to have taken place around 1:00 AM on Friday, where a resident, Mr Daniel Asuquo, popularly known as “Dan Baba”, was reportedly shot while attempting to flee from the attackers.
His residence and that of others, along with properties worth millions of naira, were vandalised and set ablaze, sending shockwaves across Ibeno communities.
This is happening less than 24 hours to Governor Umo Eno’s visit to Eket Federal Constituency for a Town Hall Meeting with the people tomorrow.
A source said, it may be a ploy by Eket to scare Ibeno from attending the parley with the governor.
An eyewitness account, who spoke under anonymity, said the hoodlums stormed the community around 1:00 a.m., with guns and other dangerous weapons causing widespread panic and destruction, causing residents to flee for safety.
He said, “At about 1: 30 am this morning, we heard gun shots in our community, and we immediately alerted the police who mobilised down to rescue us.
“The police team arrived, but the attackers had escaped. A search was conducted where one of the victims, Mr Daniel Asuquo was seen lying in a pool of his blood from gunshot wounds. He was immediately evacuated to a nearby health facility.
“This attack is the fifth time Ibeno has been attacked by Eket and Edit Eket LGAs in recent times.
Ibeno LGA is home to major oil installations and multinational operations and has come under attack by it neighbours as a result of re-mapping initiated by the outgone administration of former Governor Udom Emmanuel.
Today’s attack adds a fresh layer of concern to peace and security concerns in Ibeno, which produces 80 per cent of oil revenue to the Akwa Ibom State government. It is also viewed as a continuation of the unresolved hostilities and tensions between communities in Ibeno and Eket LGAs, often linked to long-standing feuds.
Local leaders have since condemned the attack and are appealing to Governor Umo Eno and security agencies to take urgent steps to forestall a recurrence and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Though, Akwa Ibom State government is yet to issue official statement on the incident, the Akwa Ibom State Police Command working with other security agencies have reportedly commenced investigation into the incident, while efforts are underway to restore calm.