The Amazaba community in eastern Obolo council area of Akwa Ibom State has decried the attack by its Ikot Akpan Udo neighbour in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, adding that such action could impede the ongoing efforts by the state government to resolve the 14-year-old crisis.
Communal crisis had broken out between the two neighbours in 2008, leading to the wanton destruction of lives and property and displacement of thousands of residents from the communities.
Governor Udom Emmanuel had, in his efforts to resettle the two communities before the end of his administration constituted a White Paper Implementation Committee headed by the the State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Augustine Umoh.
But in a statement on Wednesday, the community alleged that its representatives as well as security agents were attacked by armed youths from Ikot Akpan Udo village during the visit of the White Paper Implementation Committee on Tuesday August 16, 2022.
According to the statement which was issued by the Chairman Amazaba Council of Chiefs, Chief Gugonte Nglass and the Chairman Amazaba Community Development Council, Elder Aaron Bibama, such action if retaliated could frustrate the peace efforts of the state government
“The State Government White Paper Implementation Committee issued an invitation letter to meet with both communities at their town hall separately on Tuesday, August 16, 2022 by 11 am and 2pm respectively. The statement said government delegation was at Ikot Akpan Udo village by 11 am for the interactive meeting.
“The people of Amazaba were led by the executive chairman of Eastern Obolo, Abraham Odion, the Paramount ruler, Ubong Etetor, and some men of the Nigeria Police Force.
On their way to Ayama village in Amazaba community, the venue of the meeting, they met with armed youths from Ikot Akpan Udo in hundreds coming to cause mayhem.
“The security men intervened and asked the local government chairman and others in the entourage to reverse their vehicles and return back to Okoroette, the headquarters of eastern Obolo, where the state government delegation came to meet with the Amazaba people for the interest of peace.
‘The essence of the meeting scheduled by the White Paper Implementation Committee was for the needs assessment of government infrastructures affected by the civil disturbance of 2008.
“The Amazaba people not been happy with the development views Ikot Akpan Udo’s actions as a threat to peace. Nobody has the monopoly of violence and we vow that any further threat, attack and harassment will be vehemently resisted with full force”the statement said.
