A Traditional Ruler in Akwa Ibom State has allegedly broken more than he can chew. The Village Head of Nto Unang, in Etim Ekpo LGA, Obong Uwem Jumbo Akpanunang has allegedly conspired with others at large to kill some members of the village youth council.
The Village Head is said to have plotted with two members of his Council, Chief Uko Fred, Isaac Ntukidem, and paid Four Hundred Thousand Naira (¦ 400,000) to some hired assassins from Ikot Ibekwe in Ukanafun LGA to kill the following: Edidiong George Frank, Ubong Fred, Uboko Friday Matthew, Itohowo Okon, Ime George Frank and Ubon Uko Jumbo. The ¦ 400,000, 3 goats, 40 tubers of yam and assorted drinks were said to have been delivered to the supposed assassins at Ikot Ibekwe recently.
Our crime correspondent learnt that the Chief’s messenger were ordered by the assassins to kill their victim which the assassins had readily obliged. The assassins maltreated the chief’s messengers: Uko Fred and Isaac Ntukidem.
Meanwhile, the secret which had been blown went viral as the village head disappeared into the thin air. Traditional oath was said to have been administered on the Chief’s messenger facing the public naked.
Following this development, Nto Unang Youth Association petitioned the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of zone 6, stating among other things: that Chief Uwem Jumbo Akpanunang has plotted to wipe them out by any means possible. According to the petitioners, the Village Head “feels that all crimes committed by him and his supporters would be successfully “covered up” if the youths are silenced by murder.” They added “….ever since the Village Head entered into agreement with the youths to give the youths their rights, the Village Head appears threatened and has regarded the youths as a thorn in his flesh”. The Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command who has also been petitioned is said to have referred the matter on two occasions to Etim Ekpo Divisional Police for investigation.
A document made available to our correspondent indicates that Nto Unang village council, and Nto Unang Youth Association, had reached a-6 point agreement that the youths should choose their leader and present same to the village council; that the youths should print market tickets and use same to collect tolls at Obo market; that the youth should in company of electricity workers collect electric bills in the village; that the youths should collect security fees from store-keepers and take charge of security arrangement in the village; that the youths should change prescribed fees from land buyers in the village and that the youths should be given one lock-up store in the market.
The paper learnt that the Village Head, Chief Uwem Jumbo Akpanunang was not in any way comfortable with the terms of agreement, which he, alongside 5 family Heads had endorsed.
Revenue collection by the youths at Obo market in the village is said to have remained a major source of worry to the village head. A source in the village alleged that the persistent misunderstanding resulted in the Chief threatening the youths with a foreign-made pistol before he hired the assassins who never carried out the job. It would be recalled that the Chief’s predecessor and Elder brother, late Chief Ephraim Jumbo Akpanunang was killed over ¦ 20 change on the Eve of Christmas Day in 2006 by soldiers keeping peace in neighboring Ika L.G.A. What triggered the killing of the late village head was a shot by Obong Uwem Jumbo Akpanunang who is now facing conspiracy and attempted murder allegations. It was a front page story in the weekend pioneer of Friday December 29, 2006 and was captioned: “Gunmen kill Village Head, Cousin…over beer” (p6).
Chief Akpanunang era has been characterized by sporadic violence, divisiveness among his subject turning the village into a breeding ground for recalcitrant elements, impeccable sources alleged.
When our crime correspondent visited the village and interacted with the villagers it was learnt that the youths had hewn down big trees at the shrine believed to be a spiritual meeting-point of the Village Head and his partner-in-crime. The paper also gathered that some politicians from Etim Ekpo LGA had allegedly brokered peace at a venue in Shelter Afrique but it faded as some youths were absent from the peace deal, saying that serious crimes like conspiracy and attempted murder ought to be handled by the police that can prosecute the suspect.
Contacted to comment on the allegations against him, Chief Akpanunang said he is firmly in-charge of his domain, adding that the Commissioner for Investment, Commerce and Industry, Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem and the Chairman of Etim Ekpo Transition Committee Mr. Godson Uwah had waded into the matter for amicable settlement. However, the Village Head did not deny the allegations in categorical terms even as he threatened to deal with anyone that would publish anything against him.
The paper gathered from unimpeachable sources that since after the peace talks organized by political stakeholders in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area, palpable peace is yet to return to the village as the youths still insist on investigation and prosecution of Chief Akpan Unang for alleged crimes.
The two camps still maintain a cat-and-dog relationship as the paper’s investigation revealed last week that the youths and the chief’s mercenaries fought over collection of tolls. This resulted in the detention of the youth leader by Etim Ekpo Divisional Police.
The village youth leader who interacted with our crime correspondent alleged that the Transition Chairman, Mr. Godson Uwah has threatened him in a fruitless bid to intimidate him to submission. At the time of going to the press, the Transition Committee Chairman, Godson Uwah could not be reached for comments on why he has vested interest in protecting the embattled Village Head from facing the law.
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