The exacerbating security situations in Etim Ekpo and Ukanafun local government areas of Akwa Ibom State have led to mass exodus of some people from the areas to Abak, Ikot Ekpene, Uyo and some adjoining villages, Straightnews has discovered.
Mostly affected are some civil servants, teachers and petty traders who have fled the troubled areas to safer zones for fear of being kidnapped or being killed by the blood-thirsty secret cultists-turned robbery suspects.
Also, the aged, school children and subsistent farmers are not left out in the exodus, thus resulting in dwindling schools’ population and church attendance in the areas.
Some people from the areas who spoke to Straightnews on condition of anonymity decried the hardships and other attendant difficulties visited on the people as a result of the recurring skirmishes occasioned by kidnappings and robbery incidents.
Consequently, house rents in Abak town have witnessed astronomical rise due to the influx of the “refugees” from Etim Ekpo and Ukanafun.
One Mendie from Etim Ekpo lamented that the security infractions have caused untold hardships to fleeing indigenes of the affected areas.
According to him, “A one-bedroom flat in Abak that used to cost N60,000 a year now goes for N80,000 while a two-bedroom flat that used to cost N120,000 now goes for N150,000 yearly.”
He bemoaned that the displacement of the people from their ancestral houses, saying that “Many things are being affected. This is farming season and farming- major pre-occupation of the people in the areas- is affected. Petty businesses are plummeting. Schools’ population is dwindling and the people mostly the aged are liable to die early than expected”.
One Ebebe from Ukanafun described the situation as despicable in this modern age, quering why indigenes of the areas would become internally displaced persons in their state due to activities of a few hoodlums. “Socio-economic life and church attendance in most villages of the areas are declining,” he said.
Ebebe, a school proprietor, therefore, appealed to the state government government to come to the aid of the Etim Ekpo and Ukanafun people by stemming the tide of insecurity.
Recall that the insecurity caused the Akwa Ibom State Police Command in November to slam a ban on riding of motor cycles from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. until further notice.
It is alleged that Iceland Cult Confraternity, Islanders and Debams, among others are said to be responsible for the spate of kidnappings and incessant killings in those areas.
Since the killing of Akaninyene Uko alias Iso Akpafid by security operatives in January this year, many factions have sprung up wrecking more havoc in some villages and turning the local government areas into theatres of war and kidnappers’ den.
However, Uko Idiong, Ukanafun local government chairman has declared that there would be no amnesty for the people he called “terrorists and robbers.”
Idiong has vowed that not long the insecurity situation in Ukanafun would be a thing of the past.
DSP Odiko O. Macdon, the Police Public Relations Officer of Akwa Ibom State Police Command, said he was aware o f the security situations in both Etim Ekpo and Ukanafun local government areas and the command was doing everything possible to arrest the situation.
