Many injured, houses razed in fresh Akwa Ibom clash

Umo

At least 12 persons have been hospitalised and several houses torched in a renewed wave of violence unleashed on the people of Inua Eyet Ikot in Ibeno Local Government Area, allegedly by invaders from neighbouring Eket LGA.

The two neighbouring LGAs have been at loggerheads for years over control of the Stubbs Creek Reserve, a conflict that has led to multiple deaths and destruction of properties estimated at millions of naira.

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.

An eyewitness, who requested anonymity, recalled that Mr Daniel Asuquo, popularly known as “Dan Baba,” was among the gunshot victims, caught in the crossfire while trying to escape.

He said his residence, along with those of others and properties worth millions of naira, were vandalised and set ablaze during the invasion.

The source said, “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.” Punch