Bloodshed In A’Ibom …Lives Lost In Etim Ekpo, Ukanafun

Abasiofiok Inyang

No fewer than two lives have been lost and 10 persons injured as a result of a three day communal clash between Nsekhe community in Ukanafun Local Government Area and Utu Nsekhe in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of the State.

Through reasons for the bloody conflicts could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report, The Sensor, however, gathered that an age long dispute over ownership of an expense palm tree plot was said to have re-ignited the crisis.

It was further gathered that Utu Nsekhe had for many years harvested palm fruits from the plot until recently when youths from Nsekhe village layed claim to it.

This, it was learnt, did not go down well with the people of Utu Nsekhe who equally entered the plot to harvest palm fruits. In an ensuring fight, not fewer than 10 persons from the villages sustained various degree of injury even as two persons were reported to have died in a private hospital.

The Sensor also gathered that Qua Iboe Church located in Nsekhe village was attacked by the ravaging youths from Utu Nsekhe. The attack on the church, aside the struggle for the ownership of the palm tree plot, was said to have been as a result of cold war among members who are from the two community.

Members of the church who are from the two warring villages were said to have draged positions in the church, a situation that led worshippers from Utu Nsekhe to demand for a church of their own, a development that is said not to have been accepted by the Nsekhe people.

The crisis was said to have re-ignited the cold war which eventually led to the destruction of the church by the Utu Nsekhe youths.

Reacting to the crisis, an indigene of Utu Nsekhe who preferred not to be dragged into the crisis, accused Nsekhe people of greed by invading the disputed palm plot that had been in possession of his village. He also noted with regret, the importance of machineries from other communities in Ukanafun to fight his kinsmen.

He said though he is against the youths taking laws into their hands and engaging in the bloody conflict, Nsekhe people are to be blamed for the fight that has rendered many people homeless. He called for a truce between the two warring communities.

However, an indigene of Nsekhe village who also preferred anonymity, accused a prominent politician from Utu Nsekhe of sponsoring the crisis. He also denied the allegation of bringing machineries from neigbouring villages in Ukanafun to attack Utu Nsekhe people.

This, he said, was a deliberate attempt by Utu Nsekhe people to justify the unprovoked attack on Nsekhe people. While commending the security operatives especially the Police for prompt intervention, he called on the State to set up a committee to investigate the crisis and find a lasting solution to it.

When contacted, the Akwa Ibom State Police Public Relation Officer, Chukwu Ikechukwu confirmed the crisis. He said the Police has intervened and a meeting held between the two communities has yielded result as they have resolved to maintain peace.  

Culled from The Sensor Newspaper