The Inua Eyet Ikot community in Ibeno local government area of Akwa Ibom state has been deserted following a midnight attack last weekend.
Suspected hoodlums from neighbouring Esit Eket council area destroyed property worth millions of naira.
The community, rich in oil and gas, hosts ExxonMobil’s Qua Iboe terminal facility and BUA’s petrochemical factory, currently under construction.
During a tour of the damaged area on Monday, emeritus village council chairman, Chief Nta Edyang, lamented that the destroyed buildings, farms, and facilities were valued at over 100 million naira.
“A couple of days ago, we were awakened by an invasion from our Esit Eket neighbors at midnight, with massive attacks on our farms, clinic, schools, and homes, all reduced to rubble,” Chief Edyang said.
The attackers, well-armed, forced residents to flee into the bushes, where they heard the sound of sledgehammers and other destructive equipment destroying properties they had labored to build.
Chief Edyang attributed the attack to the ongoing petrochemical factory project by BUA Group.
The hoodlums claimed the village as their land, even hoisting a flag with the warning: “Ibeno beware, we won’t tolerate your conspiracy with the state government to take our land.”
The paramount ruler of Ibeno local government area, Owong (Prof) Effiong Archianga, traced the serial attacks to the community’s vast natural resources.
Chairmen of Ibeno and Esit Eket local government areas, Mrs Glory Ekah Effiong and Mrs Uduak Ikemesit Ikott, are working to restore permanent peace between the neighboring councils.
