Bloodbath Looms As Communities Seek Government Intervention Over Renewed Akwa Ibom/Abia Inter-state Boundary Crisis
This is no good time for the people of Odoro Ikot clan in Essien Udim LGA especially the farmers whose community farm lands have been under severe threats by their Igbo neighbours from Abia state in recent times.
The communities mostly affected include, Ikot Ibanga, Ikot Ekpenyong, Ikot Uko, Ikot Utin amongst others within the ‘Atai’ farm land bordering their Igbo counterparts at the border.
It is worthy to note that this is an insurrection of an age-long inter-state land boundaries dispute involving Abia State and Akwa Ibom State which affects mainly the Odoro Ikot people and particularly Ikot Umo-essien and others in Essien Udim, Akwa Ibom State and Nqwa people in Abia State.
It could also be recalled the federal government of Nigeria had at a certain time intervene and reclaim the land as government property thereby returning peace, love and tranquility to the warring communities some decades ago there is every indication that if nothing is done immediately the crisis may escalate to interstate crisis.
Narrating their ordeals to newsmen,one of the victims, Mrs Mercy Isong said the problem is getting out of hands as the women who are the most vulnerable can no longer go to their Atai farmland to harvest or cultivate their crops due to incessant unwarranted attacks by these Igbo marauders.
She said, ” all our crops in our farms have been stolen, they often come with matchetes even guns to threaten us, when we flee, they stole our foods,phones and bicycles, we are afraid,we need government intervention,” she lamented.
On his part, the clan head of Odoro Ikot, Akuku Sunday Paul Akpan who painted the full fact of the matter appealed to the relevant government agencies to intervene in order to checkmate further loss of lives and property.
The royal father said his clan was under security threats by the actions of the criminal minded Igbo neighbours who often crossed their boundary to encroach on his subject’s farm lands.
He said the people involved are those from Ikpo Ngwa, Ndaekoi and Umahia all from Abia state.
Akuku Akpan confirmed that the problem started early last year when some one from Ikot Ibanga village was kidnapped on his farm land with the whereabout unknown till date. He said he had to visit the Igbo chief to lay the complain last year in company of his fellow chiefs ,but to his disappointment ,the problem is escalating to higher dimension with the excavation of our gravel from our river.
The clan head appealed to the council chairman of Essien Udim and the state government to step in to avoid what happened during Gen.Babangida regime in the 80, s to repeat itself.
Also speaking, Chief Sunday Benson Udo, the village head of Nto Akpa Oko who doubles as the TRC chairman of Odoro Ikot clan corroborated his clan head, adding that the situation is getting worst by the day, but not for God and prompt alarm raised to alert others in the farm they ( Igbo) would have succeeded to kidnap a baby from the mother but had to abandon the child somewhere in the bush.
“We need government intervention urgently,’ Chief Sunday reiterated. He warned that any delay may also result in famine and impending hunger In the area as the people can no longer produce crops for their household .
Others who spoke include, Chief Justin Otoro, the village head of Ikot Uko and Chief Maurice Essien Jp, of Ikot Ibanga who doubles as chapter chairman of family heads all appealed for government intervention even as they suggest for further dredging of the boundary river to stop easy crossing by the Igbo criminals.
This reporter has learnt that Odoro Ikot clan is made up of 17 villages with about 8 villages having direct boundaries with their Igbo neighbors .
