The coastal oil bearing communities of Ibeno local government area of Akwa Ibom state have raised the alarm over the resurgence of armed conflict, disclosing that plans were in the offing for the Ekid neighbours to lay siege to the local LGA.
The fresh concerns over what they described as another round of invasion of their communities by alleged land – grabbers allegedly from Eket and Esit Eket LGAs, appealed to Governor Umo Eno and the federal government to intervene in order to avert full blown war.
Speaking to journalists at Upenkang community in Ibeno LGA Saturday, the secretary of Ibeno Clan Council, Chief Udofia Okon Udofia, recalled that these same sponsored hoodlums were responsible for series of attacks orchestrated by the people of Eket and Esit Eket LGAs in Ibeno villages like Iwuoachang, Inua Eyet Ikot and Ndito Eka Iba group of villages leading to death and destruction of homes, fishing gears and other valuables.
He noted the attempt to remap some LGAs by former Governor Udom Emmanuel, by ceding some oil bearing villages into his local government in Onna, and others in the state in order to benefit from the Host Community Development Trust Fund (HCDTF), was one of the remote causes of the crisis against Ibeno LGA, while Ekid People’s Union (EPU), headed by Dr Samuel Udonsak, was the platform deployed to incite and coordinate attacks against Ibeno.
He noted that: “Just recently, the President of Ekid People’s Union, Dr. Samuel Udonsak, at the quarterly general meeting of the union held on 11th April, 2025 reported that the Esit Urua people in Eket LGA, now have unfettered access to Ibeno palm plantations.”