The police command in Akwa Ibom has confirmed the crisis between the Ibeno and Esit Eket local government areas of the state.
ASP Timfon John, the command`s spokesperson, said in an interview with journalists in Eket on Monday that the attack was carried out by suspected hoodlums from neighbouring communities at midnight on Saturday.
She said the Commissioner of Police, CP Joseph Eribo, had visited the area with the State Security Service (SSS) director for an on-the-spot assessment.
Ms John said the places attacked were farms, schools, homes, clinics, and public utilities worth millions of naira.
She said the state police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was currently investigating the matter on the directive of the commissioner of police.
Ms John said no casualty had been recorded since the incident started.
The paramount ruler of Ibeno, Owong Effiong Achianga, attributed the crisis in Ibeno communities to the enormous natural resource deposits in the area.
He said Ibeno is blessed with oil and gas, which the entire Akwa Ibom benefits from, adding that his people would not tolerate further aggression from their neighbours.
“I have appealed to Ibeno youths to remain calm. I am appealing to elders, council chairmen of our neighbouring council areas, to call their youths to order,” he said.
He appealed to the state government to intervene and bring peace to the destroyed community and others earlier torched by the hoodlums.
“The government should replace the damaged property and help the displaced people recover from the shock of the atrocities,” he said.
He called on the police to deploy security personnel to Ibeno to protect lives and property, adding that the hoodlums must be apprehended to face the full wrath of the law.
