The communal clash in Akwa Ibom State took a new turn for the worse over the weekend after several houses were razed down in a renewed wave of violence unleashed on the people of Inua Eyet Ikot in Ibeno Local Government Area of the state.

The clash left 12 persons injured and hospitalised as invaders from the neighbouring Eket LGA unleashed mayhem on Inua Eyet Ikot community.

Reports say that the two neighbouring LGAs have been at loggerheads for years over control of the Stubbs Creek Reserve, leading to multiple deaths and destruction of properties estimated at millions of naira.

An eyewitness account reported that the latest attack, which occurred in the early hours of Friday last week at about 1:30 am, left several members of the Ibeno community wounded.
The eyewitness who pleaded anonymity said that one Mr Daniel Asuquo, popularly known as “Dan Baba,” was among the gunshot victims, caught in the crossfire

According to him, properties worth millions of naira were vandalised and set ablaze during the invasion.

“At about 1:30 am on Friday, we heard gunshots in our community, and we immediately alerted the police, who quickly mobilised to rescue us.

“The police team arrived when the attackers had escaped. A search was conducted where one of the victims, Mr. Daniel Asuquo, alias ‘Danbaba’, was seen lying in a pool of his blood from gunshot wounds. He was immediately evacuated to a nearby health facility,” he said.

Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, who confirmed the attack, assured that efforts were ongoing to track down the perpetrators and bring them to justice. Besides, stakeholders have condemned the incessant attacks on Ibeno communities, which have led to the loss of lives and destruction of properties.

Affected families have appealed to Governor Umo Eno, security agencies, and other concerned organisations, including the State Emergency Management Agency and the National Emergency Management Agency, to come to their aid.