BUA Refinery: Ibeno warns Eket against trespass

People of Ibeno Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State have warned that no part of their land belongs to Eket, a neighbouring council area, and that they will not tolerate any trespass.

The warning is contained in a statement by the Joint Council of Mpono Nnito Ibeno and Ulok Ulok People Assembly, signed by Chief Ikoedem Ekong, Joint Council Chairman and Pastor Tom Samuel Afia, Joint Council Secretary in Ukpenekang, Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, yesterday.

The caveat by Ibeno people may not be unconnected with a quit notice issued by the people of Eket and Esit Eket local government areas to BUA Refinery, with claims that the land allocated for the proposed refinery belongs to the Ekid people.

Ibeno people assured BUA that, If BUA refinery is located in Ibeno, they will defend its activities, personnel, both local and expatriates.

“Ibeno will never take up arms against Eket, but we will not fold our arms and watch the activities of miscreants in our land. If one leaf is taken from Ibeno into Eket, we will enter and collect 12 leaves.

Ibeno people recalled that the drums of war being sounded by the Eket people was same as they did before the communal crisis, which claimed many lives between Ibeno and Eket people in 1993. They called on Akwa Ibom State Government to take note of inciting utterances by communities in the state and take steps to maintain existing peaceful coexistence.