Gov Eno Lauded Over Resolve To End Communal Crisis

Leaders, elders, youths and diaspora stakeholders of the coastal oil-rich Ibeno local government area of Akwa Ibom State have applauded Governor Umo Eno over his resolve to intervene in the perennial land tussle between Ibeno and neighbours from Eket and Esit Eket LGAs.

It was gathered that the alleged aggressors of Eket and Esit Eket have, over the years, been pushing to claim the large expanse of land stretching from Ibeno LGA up to Mbo LGAs, insisting the heavy mangrove zone on the Atlantic coast, christened Stubb Creek Forest, belongs to them.

Speaking to newsmen at the end of its emergency general meeting at Ulok Ulok Hall in Upenekang, headquarters of Ibeno LGA yesterday, the spokesperson for Akwaha Esop Ndito Ibono Worldwide (AENIW), Chief UmanIbono Ekaluo, expressed the group’s appreciation to the state government for what they described as “a bold move to end the dispute.”

The group specifically commended the governor for his resolve to set up a committee to unravel the true ownership of the disputed forest, part of which is home to Qua Iboe Terminal, the proposed BUA petrochemicals refinery project, and many other multibillion dollar oil and gas investments.

Ibeno people are in support of the state government’s peace efforts to resolve these lingering crises that have cost the lives and properties of our people through several gun and arson attacks by our Eket and Esit Eket neighbours who illegally claim the land belongs to them.

“Ibeno LGA hosts several oil and gas companies, and unfortunately, it has come under a series of unprovoked attacks from Eket and Esit Eket, resulting in loss of several lives and properties worth billions of naira in recent times.

“Ibeno people have continued to endure these attacks and maintain their peaceful disposition, which they are known for, without retaliation, considering the negative impacts it could cause to the oil and gas companies operating in the area and the impact on the State and Nigeria’s economy,” he stated.