Two persons are feared dead while scores injured as communities in Eket and Esit Eket local government areas of Akwa Ibom clashed with their neighbours in Ibeno local government area.

Dozens of houses have also been destroyed as security operatives made frantic efforts to control the situation.

The communities are at loggerheads over the oil-rich Stubbs Creek Forest Reserves, also known as Akoiyak.

The Ekid people in Eket and Esit Eket are laying claims to the land against Ibeno.

Clashes over the land is age-long but the recent crisis started on Monday when youths of Eket and Esit Eket clashed with those of Ibeno.

The crisis continued on Tuesday with reports of casualties from both sides.

Some victims of the clash are reportedly receiving treatment at the Immanuel Hospital in Eket and other private clinics.

Both vehicular and human traffic from Eket to Ibeno have been impeded as youths from both sides blocked the Eket-Ibeno road which leads to ExxonMobil.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, Odiko MacDon confirmed the incident but said he could not confirm if persons were killed.

He said: “I can confirm that there is a clash between the Ekid people and Ibeno. I know that houses have been burnt and some persons injured but I don’t know if anyone has been killed.

“Two of our Personnel have injured also but the police is on top of the situation”, MacDon said.”

Speaking earlier, the President-General of Ekid People’s Union, Dr. Samuel Udonsak, who led his people on the road blockage, insisted that the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserves belong to Ekid.

Udonsak asked the state government to uphold judicial rulings regarding the rightful ownership of the Stubbs Creek Forest, legally recognized as Ekid land.

“Our demand is unequivocal: the state government must adhere to the Akwa Ibom State Map law-2023 and honor historical judicial verdicts dating back to 1916, which grants us full authority over the Stubbs Creek Forest.”

Iboro Imose, a youth leader from Esit Urua deplored instances of incursion by Ibeno inhabitants into Stubbs Creek Forest.

He complained that such incursions have led to destruction of property, assaults, arson, and threats of violence.

Imose alleged that even when the peaceful protest was ongoing, The Ibeno people mobilized their youths and invaded some settlements in the Stubbs Creek, burning houses, manhandling and maiming residents and threatening to cut-off peoples head.

Spokesperson for the Ibeno people, Diamond Akpanika could not be reached for comments he did not respond to calls and text messages from our correspondent. (The Nation)

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