As a result of fear of possible outbreak of communal clash between Ife Ikot Akpan and Ibiaku Issiet communities of Akwa Ibom state, the leadership of Ife Ikot Akpan, has petitioned the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abubakar Adamu to intervene to avoid bloodshed.
Chairman of Ifa Ikot Akpan village council Mr. Okon Udo Tuesday said his community has petitioned the Judicial Service Commission, Acting IGP Abubakar Adamu, and the Senate Committee on Human Rights to intervene in a land dispute before it degenerates into a communal war.
Udo said the community leaders are worried that the continued provocation and assault by the Ibiaku Issiet people on the Ifa Ikot Akpan, villagers may eventually lead to avoidable blood bath.
He said Ibiaku people resorted to attacking them after judgment was delivered by Justice Charles Ikpe, on suit no. HU/71/2017, dismissing the suit for lack of merit.
He said: “We have sent a save-our-soul message to the Judicial Service Commission, the Inspector-General of Police, Abubakar Adamu, and the Senate Committee of Human Rights and other relevant agencies to come to our aid and save us from possible blood bath and further destruction of lives and property.
“The land in dispute belongs to Ikot Akpan as they were all born to inherit it but trouble started when some persons from Ibiaku encroached on the plot after we leased the said land to Gitto Construction Company to dredge sand for the construction of the Victor Attah International Airport.
“The two communities have a stream as our naturally boundary called Idim Uduak and the land before the stream; Idim Uduak farmland is owned and cultivated by Ifa Ikot Akpan from time immemorial.“In 2000, the same people from Ibiaku trespassed into the land and when we reported the case to the Paramount Ruler of Uraun, Edidem Ekanem, he told them that the land belongs to Ifa Ikot Akpan in Uyo local government area.
“But to our utmost surprised, in 2004, the same people started invading the said plot and attack our farmers.
“As law abiding citizens, we resorted to instituting a legal action with suit no. Hu/71/2017, presided over by Justice Charles Ikpe and to our great shock again, the case was hurriedly dismissed for lack of merit.
“Powered by the judgment the Ibiaku people gang up with cultists, beat up our people and brandishing machetes on our people at our market”.
A women leader of Ifa Ikot Akpan community, Nfom Raymond and others who spoke with our correspondent expressed disappointment over continual resort to violence and insisted they would appeal against the judgment.
Efforts to speak with the village head of Ibiaku Issiet, Willian Etim, to comment on the dispute proved abortive as at press time as he could not be reached on his phones.
