By George Akpan
A matter of urgent public importance titled “Urgent Need for the Intervention of the Federal Government in the Recent Killing, Maiming and Wanton Destruction of Properties at Oku Iboku in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State by Unknown Assailant from Ikot Offiong in Cross River State" has been sponsored and presented by the member representing Itu/Ibiono Ibom Fderal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Dr. Henry Archibong.
In leading the debate yesterday on the floor of the House, the lawmaker started by giving the historical background of the crisis between the Ibibio ethnic group in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom state and the Efiks in Odukpani LGA of Cross River State, which according to him dated back to the 1970’s and early 80’s, and became rampant in the 1990s. He informed the House that the inter-communal conflict between the two communities of Oku Iboku and Ikot Offiong had, between 1998 and 2005 resulted in loss of lives including those of women and children, with attacks on travelers and motorists along that section of Calabar-Itu Highway. Dr. Archibong hinted that by August 2005, the crisis between these communities was believed to have been settled amicably sequel to the intervention of Akwa Ibom and Cross River State Governments.
He however expressed worries that on December 17, 2016, men loaded with sophisticated arms and weapons with war songs in their mouths launched and unprovoked attack on the people of Oku Iboku, shooting sporadically into the air thereby causing panic and fear in the village, which also caused some of the villagers to flee their homes. He also informed that a total of 27 speedboats and outboard engines belonging to Oku-Iboku indigenes and other riverine communities around its environs have so far been stolen by these unknown assailants thereby denying them access to their main source of livelihood, which is primarily fishing and farming. So far, Mben Inyanng, a village which is near to the foot of the bridge was completely burnt down.
The Lawmaker also informed that no fewer than 38 persons from Oku-Iboku were killed in the unprovoked attack by the assailants, who again on January 12, 2017 attacked massively, overpowered and disarmed some police officers who were on patrol in the area thereby killing one of them and severely wounding another. Dr. Archibong observed that the attacks appear to be criminally motivated as the occurrence synchronized in time with when the Oku Iboku people and indeed the adjoining villages were just about to harvest their crops such that the assailants have continually stolen the farm produce belonging to the people. He then expressed deep worry that if these attacks, which according to him have paralysed social and economic activities in the area, are not timely brought under control, it may lead to a retaliation by the affected people with a very high prospect of breakdown of law and order and extensive loss of lives and property.
The national lawmaker thereby prayed the House to:
1. Call on the Federal Government to beef up security in and around Oku-Iboku, Ikot Adakpan, Mben Inyang, Ayadehe, Mbiabo, Head bridge and their environs in order to forestall further attacks on the communities;
2. Urge the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to send relief materials to the affected communities as there are now thousands of internally displaced persons, and;
3. Mandate the committee on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Refugees and Initiatives on the North East to ensure resettlement of the internally displaced persons in the affected communities.
After a thorough debate, the prayers of the sponsor were all accepted and the matter referred to relevant committees of the House.
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