Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State has imposed dusk-to-dawn curfew to check further escalation of the clashes between Ibeno and Yoruba fishermen in the area.
Speaking to newsmen in Uyo, the Chairman of Ibeno Local Government Area, High Chief Williams Henry Mkpa said the curfew was a prompt action directed by the state government to prevent mayhem in the oil rich city of Ibeno.
Following the directive, Mkpa, it was gathered, has imposed and indefinite curfew with full restrictions of both human and vehicular movements in the troubled riverine communities from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. with immediate effect.
A statement signed for the Council Chairman by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr. Melford Asuquo, and made available to newsmen in Uyo, the state capital on Thursday, Mkpa warned that those apprehended during the curfew periods, would be prosecuted.
“Following the violent clash between the Yoruba community and indigenes of Mkpanak group of communities in Ibeno council area, which has resulted in the loss of lives and properties, the Executive Chairman of Ibeno Local Government Area has declared a dusk-to-dawn curfew from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00.a.m with immediate effect till further notice.
“Sequel to the above, human and vehicular movements are prohibited in any part of the Local Government, while security agencies have been put on alert to strictly enforce this order, and anyone found during these hours will be arrested and prosecuted accordingly,” the statement warned.
Meanwhile, Mr. Moses Ekpo, the state Deputy Governor, has visited the troubled community which is host Mobil Producing Nigeria, with a view to calming frayed nerves and provide succour to hundreds of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) taking refuge in neighbouring communities.
Recall that more than 10 persons were feared killed and several others missing while property estimated at several millions of naira have been reportedly destroyed in a bloody communal clash early last Wednesday involving the mostly Yoruba (Ilaje) residents and the natives of the riverine Ibeno Local Area of Akwa Ibom State..
It was learnt that the palace of Paramount Ruler of Ibeno, Owong Effiong Achianga, was torched.
However, one of the local residents of Mkpanak in Ibeno Local Government Area, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, hinted that “the crisis started as a result of the cult clash, before it snowballed into ethnic dimensions.”
The source said about 4 p.m. on Tuesday, two Yoruba men who quarrelled over a woman, took their disagreement to the residence of an Ibeno man at Mkpanak.
The owner of the compound asked them to leave his premises but one of the Ilaje men, alleged to be a member of a notorious cult group in the area, felt insulted.
He broke a bottle and stabbed the owner of the premises. This provoked Ibeno indigenes who surrounded him and beat him to stupor.
After stabbing the Ibeno indigenes, the Ilaje man reportedly put a call across to members of his cult group, mobilising them for a revenge against Ibeno indigenes, who beat him for stabbing one of their own.
The arrival of the cult members, who came to support the attackers, led to an all night fight with scores reportedly killed.
When policemen arrived at the scene of the clash, some miscreants pelted the police with stones.
But, a Yoruba indigene living in Akwa Ibom State, Barr. Oluwajuwon Ogunbiyi, who confirmed the incident described the situation as unfortunate and called on the state government to set up a committee to investigate the crisis.
According to him, “It is quite unfortunate that this crisis has led to the loss of innocent lives and destruction of properties. The Ibeno community had been a good host over the decades to both indigenes and non-indigenes. Everybody has been living there in harmony without rancour.
“I’m, therefore, using this medium to appeal for peace and an end to hostilities from both warring parties. I also want to call on the Governor of Akwa Ibom as well as heads of security agencies in the state to intervene in the matter immediately in order to stem down this waves of violence.”
