The worsening 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 civil servants 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 robbers.
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 affected 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 hardship to fleeing indigenes of the affected areas.
According to him, “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 homes, saying the situation has greatly affected the socio-economic wellbeing of the people of the area.
“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,” he said.
Another displaced person from Ukanafun, who gave his name simply as Ebebe described the situation as despicable in this modern age, querying 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.
Mr. Ebebe, a school proprietor, therefore, appealed to the state government to come to the aid of the Etim Ekpo and Ukanafun people by stemming the tide of insecurity.
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The protracted insecurity in the affected areas had caused the Akwa Ibom State Police Command to place a ban on the riding of motorcycles from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. since November 2017.
Residents say Iceland Cult Confraternity, Islanders and Debams, among others are responsible for the spate of kidnappings and incessant killings in affected areas.
Since the killing of Akaninyene Uko alias Iso Akpafid by security operatives in January, many factions have sprung up wrecking more havoc in some villages and turning the local government areas into theatres of war.
However, Uko Idiong, the chairman of Ukanafun Local Government Area has insisted there would be no amnesty for the people he called “terrorists and robbers.”
Mr. Idiong has vowed that not long the insecurity situation in Ukanafun would be a thing of the past.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Odiko Macdon, said he is aware of the security situations in two council areas.
He, however, noted the command was doing everything possible to arrest the situation.
This report is published with the permission of Straightnews.
