Illegal demolition: Akwa Ibom community petitions NUC over land dispute with UNIUYO

Offot Usung Ifiayong community  in Uyo Local Government Area (LGA) of Akwa Ibom  has  petitioned the National Universities Commission (NUC) alleging unprovoked attacks on their community by management of University of Uyo.

The community under the aegis of Offot Usung Ifiayong Unity Assembly,  made the call on Monday in a communiqué of their meeting in Uyo, addressed to the General Secretary of NUC, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed.

The communiqué signed by Obong Tony Asikpo, a former Speaker, Uyo Legislative Assembly and 18 others,  appealed to NUC to call the management of UNIUYO to order over alleged  harassments of its people pending court’s decision over disputed land.

The community hosts the university permanent site located along Nwaniba, Uruan LGA, Akwa Ibom.

“The latest in the series of alleged attacks and illegal destruction of property occurred in the night of Sunday May 24, 2020.

“Our people were woken up at 2 a.m. by sound of intense gunshots that continued for over an hour.  The people were frightened and remained indoors fearing there was an armed robbery attack in the area.

“They were however shocked to discover in the morning that not less than 10 houses in the community had been demolished.

“This is one in several unprovoked attacks by the university, ignoring many peace moves initiated by the State Government to find  lasting solution to the protracted land dispute between the community (ten Offot Ukwa villages),” the communiqué read.

The community further alleged that the university authorities eventually withdrew from harassing members of the community when the matter was taken to court in suit no. HU/337/2015, while the police promised to hold dialogue with parties on the matter.

The people of the community, therefore, urged NUC to prevail on the university authority to desist from harassing the people and wait for the pronouncement of the court.

They further asked the commission to prevail on the vice chancellor of University of Uyo, Prof. Enefiok Essien to return to the negotiating table already established through the Secretary to State Government (SSG) Mr Emmanuel Ekuwem for the purpose of peace.

He said the purpose of negotiation was for purpose of delineation of the boundaries between the community and the university so as to put an end to every form of hostility and installing lasting peace for needed development.

“We also demand that the management of the university of Uyo be prevailed upon to pay adequate compensations to all the victims whose property at various stages of completion were destroyed in the Feb. 15, 2015 and May 24, 2020 illegal demolition,” the communiqué added. (NAN)