Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.
The fracas that caused extensive havoc to
the residences of the Village Head of Ikot Edah, Ete Idung Sunday
Usoro, and councillor representing Ikpa Ikono, Ward 2, Mr. Nkreuwem
James, was kindled by a dispute between two boys from both communities
over a girlfriend.
Besides property running into millions of naira and money that were
looted, about 40 motorcycles, bicycles and ancestral heritages were
torched. Two cars belonging to the monarch were also destroyed.
A dependable source told Niger Delta Voice
: “A young man, who hails from Ikot Umiang and residing in Ikot Edah had
a minor misunderstanding with his friend, an indigene of Ikot Edah,
over a lady both of them had dated previously.
“What really transpired between them is not clear. But it was so serious
that in the evening of the following day, when the Ikot Umiang boy was
passing through Ikot Edah after his normal business, the Ikot Edah-based
lover boy and his gang waylaid and stabbed him to death.”
at about 8a.m with guns, machetes, axes, fuel and other dangerous
weapons, burning all the houses in the
Our source said inhabitants of the community, mainly peasant farmers and
traders, were setting out for their farms and shops on the ill-fated
day, when the invaders stormed the town.
A villager, Aniete Bradforth, said: “
The Ikot Umiang youths came in like soldier ants with guns, petrol and
matches and before we knew what was happening, this house (pointing to a
residence) was on fire.
“They beat up a 90-year-old woman, who lives here, leaving her with injuries all over her body.”
“I watched my house set ablaze with N2 million cash inside.”
Usoro said he was on his way to the Police Station to lodge a report
that a corpse was abandoned in the community when armed youths of Ikot
Umiang invaded Ikot Edah.
He said the attacking youths were armed, but that police were able to make some arrests.
A fish seller, who is in her 60s, Mmayen Bassey, bemoaned: “I have been
keeping money in my wrapper for over 10 years to buy a piece of land. It
has amounted to over N200,000. Today, I am as good as dead as they all
got burnt; not even to talk about my goods.