The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has confirmed an alleged attack by hoodlums from Eket in the Inua Eyet Ikot Community in Ibeno Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
The command’s spokesperson, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Timfon John, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Eket.
John said the police were aware of the incident and that intensive efforts were underway to track down the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
“There is an effort to track down the perpetrators, and the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom, CP Baba Azare, has directed the command to ensure they are apprehended,” she said.
According to her, the attack occurred in the early hours of Friday, in Ibeno LGA.
A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the incident began at about 1:30am, with five people reportedly shot.
The victims, who sustained gunshot wounds, were currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in Ibeno.
The source added that about 12 people were injured during the attack, which allegedly involved hoodlums from the Eket community targeting the oil-bearing community of Inua Eyet Ikot in Ibeno.
He said: “Some persons were taken to hospitals after the renewed communal assaults on Ibeno.”
According to him, residence and belongings worth millions of naira were vandalised and set ablaze, forcing the rest of the fishing community dwellers to seek refuge in churches and relatives’ homes outside their area.
“About 1:30am on Friday, we heard gunshots in our community, and we immediately alerted the police, who mobilised troops to rescue us,” he said.
Another eyewitness said the attack marked the fifth time Ibeno had been targeted by hoodlums allegedly from Eket and Esit Eket Local Government Areas in recent times.
“This latest attack has further heightened concerns over peace and security in Ibeno, a community that contributes about 80 percent of oil revenue to the Akwa Ibom Government and the Federal Government,” the eyewitness said.
He condemned the recurring attacks on Ibeno communities, which had resulted in the loss of lives and destruction of property.
He appealed to Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, security agencies, and well-meaning individuals to intervene and help restore peace to the area. [NAN]
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