Mishap in Valerie Ebe’s LGA * War over girl friend sacks communities

While the rest of  the world are  still basking in the euphoria of the new year, the situation is different in a village called Ikot Edah in Mkpat Enin LGA, as the entire inhabitants of the area are languishing in pains, penury and destitution, counting their lost resulted in last Saturday’s communal clash allededly by the youth of the neighbouring village; Ikot Umiang in Ikpa Ikono Ward 3. 

The terrible and disgusting sight of the wanton destruction of properties and homes in Ikot Edah, our reporter observed, replicates that of the heartless Islamic Sect, Boko Haram in the North Eastern part of the country. 

However, it took the Chairman, Mkpat Enin Local Government Council, Mr Ephraim Akpan, the DPO, Mkpat Enin, CSP Abri, the Councillor representing Ikpa Ikono Ward 2, Mr Nkereuwem Okon James, the deputy leader of the legislature, Ekaette Philip Akpan, Chief Whip, Mr Isaac Sunday Akpan, Councillor for Ibiaku Ward 2, Mr Ini George as well as Councillor representing Ikpa Ibom Ward 4, Mr Michael Aaron Daniel, over 5 hours to have an on-the-spot assessment and ascertain the level of destruction meted on their people even in broad day light. 

The crisis, our reporter gathered broke out early hours of Saturday, where inhabitants of the area, mainly peasant farmers and traders, were set to go out for their normal day routine. 

Sources in the area said the crisis ensued when a certain young man, a native of Ikot Umiang, who resides in Ikot Edah, had a misunderstanding with his friend from Ikot Umiang, where the duo went to have fun in the spirit of the season, that the following day, the Ikot Umiang based lad was using Ikot Edah to return from his business, believing to be in the night, when the Ikot Edah based-friend attacked and stabbed him to dead. 

Our reporter was told that in reprisal attack of the boy that was killed in Ikot Edah, the youth of Ikot Umiang stormed Ikot Edah, about 8 in the morning, with guns, machetes, axes, fuel and other weapons, bringing down and burning all houses in Ikot Edah beating aged households who tried to plead with them to pulp, while carting away cash and other valuables. 

A car belonging to the Village Head of Ikot Edah, Ete Idung Sunday Usoro, about 12 motorcycles, many bicycles and about 40 houses were completely razed including some ancestral heritage. 

Peoples’ hard earned money, running into Millions of Naira were lost to the looters the inferno that was set by the youth, the most affected being the Palace of the Village Head and the residence of the Councillor who is a native of Ikot Edah, Mr Nkereuwem James. 

“The Ikot Umiang youth came in like soldier ants with petrol and matches and before we knew what was happening, this house was on fire. They beat up a ninety year old woman who lives here leaving her with wounds all over her body”, said Anietie Bradforth. 

“I watched my house completely set ablaze with Two Million Naira cash inside”, said the Village Head. 

“I was tying over Two Hundred Thousand Naira in my wrapper for over ten years to buy a piece of land, but today, I am as good as death as they all caught burnt, not even to talk about my goods”, lamented one fish Seller who is in her 60’s, Mmayen Nse Bassey. 

Speaking to our reporter, the Village Head of Ikot Edah, Ete Idung Sunday Usoro, said he went to the Police Station to lodge a complaint of a corpse that was abandoned in his community. 

The Monarch who is in his 80’s said, just as the police was making plans to come and evacuate the corpse and make arrest, news broke that his village has been set ablaze by aggrieved youths of Ikot Umiang. 

The Village Head said though it was not easy for the police, ab initio, as the youth were well armed with weapons, guns and machetes, but with reinforcement, the police were able to penetrate, making some arrest and handed them over to the State Criminal Investigation Department.

However, by the time our reporter went round the two villages, it was observed that while the war-torn Ikot Edah is completely razed down with no building left behind, inhabitants of Ikot Umiang had fled their village for fear of possible arrest by the police who have condoned off the area, thereby halting economic and social activities in the area which has many political polling units, churches and schools. 

The number of persons arrested so far by the Police were said to be 25.
Meanwhile, the Chairman, Mkpat Enin Local Government Council, Mr Ephraim Akpan, who was soaked with tears during the tour, has waded into the crisis with a directive to the warring parties to maintain peace and order, while the government finds a lasting solution to the dispute. 

The Council boss, who described the situation as heart-breaking and sorrowful, has assured that no culprit will escape the full wrath of the law.
“There is no situation that would warrant this barbaric act in the beginning of the year. This is heart breaking and I could not hold the tears. But, as I said, there is no point to retaliate as the police who have done very well already will investigate the matter and bring all culprits to book. On our part as a government, the council will ameliorate the situation and as a matter of fact, 12 hours from now, we will assemble all villagers of this community and give them some relief materials. 

“It is pathetic that the only property of these people is the very clothes they wore during the mayhem. But, we will do our best”, Akpan noted. 

Though the crisis and enormity of the situation has transcended the ability of a local government, the council boss had announced a committee to evaluate the mayhem and come up with immediate intermediary measures. 

Pundits believe that to say the people of Ikot Edah will survive the shock in a week is a wild goose cheese as the situation at hand is threatening to their existence in all ramifications. 

Politically, it is believed that if adequate and prompt redemptive measures are not put in place, the two communities would be disfranchised in the forthcoming general elections, as no one knows if they would survive the next minute. 

Meanwhile, now that the people of Ikot Edah in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area are internally displaced in the circumstance, will they be treated as those living in the North Eastern part of the country where insurgency is taking place? It is our prayers!