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From Isaac Job, Uyo
Elders and youths of Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have threatened legal action against Eket neighbours for accusing them of being responsible for the recent attack in the area.
In a communique by Chief Udofia Okon Udofia at the end of Ulok Ulok Progressive Assembly, they demanded their Eket neighbours to tender a public apology.
They also wondered why the state government could not stop the perennial skirmishes in Ibeno over the years.
The communique reads in parts: “Our attention has been drawn to a reckless, inflammatory, and dangerous publication titled “Outfall of Obolo State Failure: Ibeno Miscreants Invade Eket Village, Damage Building. “The vile piece riddled with half truths, unfounded allegations, and ethnic profiling deliberately targeted at the industrious people of Ibeno LGA.
“We reject in the strongest terms this cowardly attempt to incite public hatred and ethnic tensions through unguarded utterances and twisted historical fabrications.”
Udofia said contrary to the false narrative being peddled, the real tragedy did not occur in Eket, but in Ibeno coastal community.
“On Friday, 1st August 2025, the peaceful community of Inua Eyet Ikot in Ibeno LGA, was invaded by criminal elements from Eket leading to the loss of innocent lives, several people injured, and the destruction of residential properties.”
He said the claims by Eket neighbours on the allegations that Ibeno people have not been verified by a report from any security agency describing it as a fictitious tale cooked to provoke unrest and malign the peace loving people of Ibeno coastal communities.
“There is no verifiable report anywhere, either with the Akwa Ibom State Police Command, the Department of State Services, or local security formations, confirming any so called “Ibeno invasion” of Ine Iko Ibiok village in Esit Eket.That story is a fictitious tale, planted to provoke unrest and malign the peace loving people of Ibeno
“The fabrication of crude criminalities against a people is not only defamatory, but a deliberate act of political blackmail and ethnic scapegoating. We will not sit idly while the image of our leaders is dragged through the mud by frustrated political elements in Eket and Esit Eket LGAs.”
Ibeno people, therefore, threatened legal action to seek redress for libel and defamation committed against them
“We demand the immediate retraction of that inciting publication and lies from Eket and Esit Eket people and warn those behind it that, we are prepared to pursue legal redress, both for the libel against our leaders and the defamation of our collective identity”.
