Thugs invade Eket: Scores feared dead, two drowned, ors injured

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT

But for the intervention of the Nigerian Police, many People would have laid dead during a fight between factions of National Union of Road Transport workers (NURTW) Okon Eket Motor Park on Monday, leading to the closure of the park by the Eket Local Government.

Our Correspondent who visited the scene reports that stern-looking police men blocked entrance of the Pack from Passengers and taxi drivers thereby rendering Uyo–bound Passengers Stranded.
As of the time of filling this report, illegal loading and off – loading has returned on the streets of Eket and the park has remained closed.

Findings reveal that trouble Started last week when one “Small Boy’ a member of the management Committee of the park and vice Chairman Usurped Power and refused to “Play by the rules of the game” in terms of money.

Our source said the said “Small Boy” immediately formed a cabal within members of the Union in an effort to overthrow the chairman who is from Ndung Usoh, a Community very close to the Park.
Sensing the impending plot, the chairman and his boys mobilized thugs with dangerous weapons and unleashed mayhem on the rival faction, wounding many people including passengers, the source said.

Speaking with our correspondent, a youth leader in Eket who craved strict anonymity said that the Okon – Eket motor park was a political creation of the executive chairman of Eket Local Government Area to appease the Okon Eket People and that the  location of the park was very controversial.

He said the Eket Main Park which is a major source of internal revenue for the Local Government has remained almost abandoned as a result of the new Okon-Eket Park, warning that if something urgent is not done, the State government’s effort in sanitizing the transport sector will run into a hitch as the Eket palaver will spill over to Uyo.

Meanwhile, one Mr. Edon Akpan who jumped into a nearby river during the crisis is reported missing. His body is yet to be found and tension continuous to envelop the area.

The chairman of Eket Local Government Area, Mr. Aniekan Akpan could not be reached for comment as he refused picking calls and even text messages on his Mobil phone.