Pregnant mother, man die in community clash!

A pregnant mother, Mrs. Esther Effiong, and an indigene of Effiat, Mr. Bassey Okon, were on Friday, killed in a renewed clash among Effiat communities in Mbo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.

Esther, a mother of two, was said to have led one of her children outside to urinate when she was shot twice by warring Effiat youths, who also set her corpse ablaze.

A younger brother to Esther, Mr. Edet Effiong, told our correspondent in Orukim on Saturday that Esther’s remains had been brought back from Effiat to Offi Uda, where she was to be buried.

Edet said that his sister was five months pregnant at the time of her death.

He said, “My sister was living with her husband in Inua Abasi, one of the Effiat’s communities, where she was killed.

“The hoodlums set her corpse ablaze after they had shot her to death. They also set her home ablaze. But nothing happened to her husband as the man had left that morning for work.”

The second victim, Okon, was said to be in his house, where the hoodlums inflicted machete cuts on him before setting him and his house on fire.

An indigene of Effiat, Mr. Uko Edet, said Effiat communities were not going to know peace until all those who were sitting on the communities’ oil revenues were brought to book.

“It is unfortunate that innocent people were killed in the fracas, but we will not yield to any pressures from any quarters to stop fighting.

 “There are thousands of Effiat’s youths that are hungry. Many of these youths are graduates without jobs.

“We shall reduce the entire Effiat land to rubble if those involved in stealing Effiat’s money refused to listen to our requests,” he said.

By Sunday morning, fighting and burning of houses had spread to Ute Esuk Enwang as thick smoke could be seen.

Residents and indigenes of Ute Esuk Enwang, Inua Abasi and some other Effiat communities, were seen fleeing to other Mbo villages.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Etim Dickson, who confirmed the incident, said the police needed help to be able to curb the activities of the hoodlums.

He stated that the police required gunboats stationed in many strategic positions to be able to arrest the situation.

Dickson said, “We need help, from the local government chairman, from the state government and the Federal Government. We need gunboats and regular fuel supply. These areas are not friendly as they are miles apart from land by water.”

Punchng