Apprehension as Yoruba fishermen flee 2 A’Ibom communities

Yoruba inhabitants, who are mainly fishermen, residing at Mkpanak and Iwukpom villages in Ibeno Local Government Area, Akwa-Ibom State, have escaped from their homes in both towns, following a clash between Yoruba and Mkpanak youths, generating uneasy tension.

One person was reportedly killed, several others either maimed or missing and property worth millions of naira destroyed in the violent clash.

However, the head of Iwuokpom, one of the affected Ibeno villages, Obong Okon Sunday Atabop, said nobody chased away Ilaje-Yoruba residents from the community, saying the people would sit down with them at a round-table to resolve the misunderstanding when they return.

To avert escalation of the crisis, the chairman of Ibeno Local Government Council, High Chief Henry Mkpa, on April 21, imposed a 7.00 pm to 6.00 am curfew on the local government area.

On what caused the fight, one of the fleeing fishermen, a father of seven children, Mr. Ayo, said: “The only thing I can say is that it was around 2.00 am that I heard noise outside my house. Before I knew what was happening, they (boys) entered my house, took all my money and other things. So everybody ran and scattered.

“I live in Jacob Street, Ibeno and I have lived in Ibeno for more than six years but l haven’t seen a thing like this happen before. Sometimes, we have misunderstanding with the natives, but within seconds, we settle. Other tribes are living there too and when this started, everybody ran away.

“Those people were shooting indiscriminately. If the police and soldiers had not come, maybe they would have killed everybody. It was not a small thing; they burnt all my boats and my fishing nets. We are standing here because we don’t have anywhere to stay.

“We arrived in this place (temporary refugee location) since yesterday (last Wednesday) and we were more than this number you are seeing here today. Some people have gone to find houses to stay in town,” he said.

He added that “some people have died, many are missing. As we are talking, one of my sons, Taye, is missing. I do not know where to look for him. I am planning to see if I can find a soldier that I will join to the Terminal (Mkpanak area) to search for him. I cannot go there alone. There are many streets there, when those doing bad things see security agents, they will go to another street to make trouble. Most of us here are local fishermen in Ibeno.”

Also speaking, Mrs. Taiwo Solomon residing at Apostolic Road, Ibeno, testified that on Tuesday night when she peeped through her window, she saw people running and boats in flames, she was afraid and held her six children together.

“We were hiding in the house when we were told to move and lock our door, that if those people making trouble come inside the house, we will be killed. So we left Ibeno about 12.00 pm on Wednesday. We are stranded here; we do not have anywhere else to go. We have not even eaten since that yesterday. We managed to buy water and snacks for the children,” she lamented.

Reacting, the Village Head of Iwuokpom in Ibeno, Obong Okon Sunday Atabop, said: “I went to church, because we (Brotherhood) are having Pentecost this period and I came back home around 11.00pm. On the way, I saw broken bottles everywhere. When I got home, I saw Yoruba boys, they were many. I told them to go home that I did not want to see anybody causing problem here at Iwuokpom, but they refused to go.

“When the boys from my village heard about this and came out, I asked them to go home and they did. But as I prepared to go to sleep at about 2.00 am, I saw some Yoruba boys, they started rioting, and there were shootings. I was afraid, so I used my phone and called the paramount ruler and the Divisional Police Officer, DPO. The police team came and dispersed them. But before police came, they had already destroyed things, burnt things and they even broke the glass of my house as you can see.

“When the police arrived, I came out from my house and police told me to go inside because they were still rioting. It was not a small fight. Some of them (Ilajes) are living here with us, just as some are living with our people in other villages. Also before the police came, I called their leader, Chief J-J to tell his people to disperse, but the man said he had warned them but they refused to listen to him,” he said.

Responding to claims that many people died, the village head said:  “Nobody died except that young man that was stabbed to death with something and they brought the corpse down here. He was living here. We saw the corpse, it has been deposited in the hospital at Upenekang. So if anybody tells you many people died, let them bring their corpses for us to see.

“And immediately this thing happened, many of them used their boats to run away.  Nobody drove anybody away, we are all Nigerians. And if they come back, we will sit down at a round table and give them the condition that they should agree to live in peace with us, and to be law abiding,”{ he added.

Akwa Ibom State Police Command in a statement by Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Odiko MacDon, said proactive steps have been put in place to ensure law and order in the affected areas, assuring members of the public that those behind the dastardly act would be brought to book.

The Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State, Andrew Amiengheme, had on receipt of the information, deployed men from Ibeno Division and Tactical Teams from the State Headquarters to the affected areas, and was able to successfully restore law and order.

MacDon who said the commissioner was pained by the loss of one life and the wanton destruction of property, in company of the village head of Mkpanak, Chief Dennis Bassey,  addressed stakeholders and youths of the area during his visit to the areas.

“The commissioner also met with residents from Ilaje where he had a similar interface with them before proceeding to meet with the paramount ruler of Ibeno, HRH Owong Effiong Archianga. He assured the monarch and leaders of continued security presence and the maintenance of law and order in Ibeno,” he added.

Paramount Ruler of Ibeno Local Government Area, HRM Effiong Bassey Archianga, in a statement on April 21, appealed to Governor Udom Emmanuel, to wade into the crisis and revealed he had placed traditional injunction calling for peace.

“I hereby appeal to the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State to wade into this matter, to resolve this conflict, give a meaningful and permanent solution that will let peace reign in lbeno land.

“In my capacity as the paramount ruler of Ibeno, I hereby place a traditional injunction and sue for peace. Both parties should sheathe their swords. Any person or group of persons who violate the traditional order should bear the consequences,” the monarch said. (Vanguard)