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•Residents take refuge in forest
From Judex Okoro, Calabar
Palpable fear and tension have gripped residents of Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State, as hundreds of thugs attacked over 15 houses and destroyed property worth several millions of naira recently.
Following the attack, hundreds of residents have fled to nearby forests where they are taking refuge for fear of the unknown.
The thugs, alleged to be supporters of the candidates of All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had operated from Sunday, Februrary 5, to Tuesday, Februray 7, between 9pm and 5am.
Some of the people whose houses were attacked were the state PDP organising secretary, Mr. Nsa Ekeng, Atimbo West ward; Francis Effanga, director-general of PDP southern senatorial candidate campaign council; Ekpo Okon, Elder Effiom Edet Ekpo, PDP Atimbo West ward chairman; and Amanso Okon Etim, PDP chapter youth leader, Atimbo East Ward.
Others affected were Edet Okon Etim (aka Sunny), youth leader, Atimbo West ward; Emmanuel Eyo, Atimbo West Ward; Saviour Maurice, PDP vice chairman, Atimbo West and Orok Ekeng.
APC members whose property were destroyed are Innocent Atsenudiara, supervisor in Calabar South, who is said to be a loyalist of the PDP House of Reps member, Hon. Essien Ayi and Offiong Antigha.
Investigation by Daily Sun showed that there had been silent war over the alleged destruction of campaign posters and billboards mounted by various candidates.
PDP state chairman, Venatius Ikem, had earlier raised the alarm that they were being denied space to mount their billboards, accusing government agencies of complicity in the destruction of some PDP candidates’ billboards across the state.
The APC chairman, Alohonsus Eba, had also decried the destruction of APC candidates’ billboards, alleging that the opposition party was behind it.
The trouble got to a climax following allegations that one of the APC House of Representatives candidate’s billboards mounted at the campaign office in Akpabuyo was pulled down.
Piqued by this, thugs said to be loyal to one of the APC’s candidates regrouped and unleashed mayhem on nine house belonging to PDP members across Akpabuyo communities òn February 5.
A source revealed that, on the same day, armed thugs loyal to the PDP also attacked a guest house said to belong to an APC chieftain and carted away electronics. Emboldened by poor security within the community, the thugs invaded more houses, attacked occupants and looted items the following day.
When Daily Sun visited the community, about 15 houses were destroyed, over 10 cars were vandalised and various household items, ranging from cooking utensils to mattresses were looted by the hoodlums.
Checks revealed that the affected families have relocated to their relatives’ houses in Calabar, the capital of the state, while hundreds of residents have fled, just as some young men have taken refuge in nearby forests for fear of reprisals.
A witness, Emmanuel Okon, 34, said the attack was a coordinated one as the hooligans, numbering over 100, moved from one house to house and vandalised vehicles parked at every compound they raided and carted away valuable items such as electronis.
Okon decried the ugly incident, saying the local vigilance team had to move in to rescue some of the victims and their families to avoid bloodshed.
In an interview, a victim, Effanga, said he was surprised that his house was attacked. He said: “I came back on Sunday evening and saw some boys loitering around Maternity axis of our area. I quickly drove off because I suspected something and later returned.
“But about 10pm, I suddely heard people clustering around my compound. I peeped through the window and saw over 100 boys armed with sophisticated guns and other weapons.
“I called the local vigilance boys and they smuggled me out through the back door, leaving my family members in the house. I put calls through to the security and there was no response.
“I thank God none of my family members was attacked apart from the two cars and doors they destroyed. They also stole the car batteries and other valuable car documents.
“I can tell you that these attacks were carried out by APC boys and their supporters. But they would not deter us. We are on ground in Akpabuyo and nobody can intimidate us out on election day.”
Another victim, Elder Effiom Edet Ekpo, PDP Atimbo West ward chairman, said he knew the identities of the attackers and added that the attack took place between 2.30am and 3am.
According to him, “this attack was the fallout of the meeting convened by one of the APC’s candidates on Sunday evening and some of these boys were in that meeting.
“In fact, during the attack, they were shouting that no PDP person will be allowed to vote during the elections and that they will come out with arms on election day to enforce it.”
Decrying the attack on their members and destruction of their properties, PDP leader in Akpabuyo, Sir Arthur Jarvis, said the incident would have been averted if security agents had responded to desperate calls.
“The hoodlums armed with guns and other weapons, moved on and carried out an all-night attack on the residences and business premises of our party leaders and supporters within Atimbo East and Atimbo West wards.
“We brought these acts of unwarranted attacks and provocation to the authorities by writing to the state police commissioner, the AIG, Zone 6, and the DSS. But as we speak, nothing has been done to abate these acts of terrorism.
“These hoodlums are now having an unhindered environment to attack innocent residents of the area,” Jarvis said.
He called on the security agencies to urgently take action to secure lives and properties in the area and also arrest those who have been identified and reported to them as perpetrators of this brigandage.
Also speaking, Hon. Essien Ayi, the member representing Akpabuyo, Bakassi and Calabar South federal constituency, prevailed on their members against retaliatory attacks, warning that “there is an extent to which you push someone to the wall and he will not fail to react.”
Bemoaning the destruction of his houses and billboards in Akpabuyo, allegedly, Chief Eyo Effiong Antigha, in a petition to commissioner of police, accused PDP supporters of orchestrating the attack, saying he escaped death by the whisker on February 6.
The petition, which was written and signed by Margaret U. Ittang, alleged that “on February 5, armed thugs and miscreants descended on our client, Antiigha, while at his guest house at 15, Ikot Offiong Ambai, Akpabuyo, and also destroyed the APC billboard mounted there and looted household items,” and appealing for urgent intervention.
Debunking any involvement, the Deputy Speaker of Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon. Joseph Bassey, expressed concern over the unrest in Akpabuyo perpetuated by some unidentified hoodlums, which led to the destruction of property.
Bassey said achieving political strength, economic stability and cultural growth would be impossible in the absence of peace and harmony.
Bassey, who is the APC House of Representatives candidate for Calabar South/Akpabuyo/Bakassi federal constituency, said: “I am not from Akpabuyo nor do I have boys there. I only go to Akpabuyo whenever I am invited and it was such invitation I honoured on Sunday to inaugurate my campaign office in the area.
“Those alleging that I was responsible for the attack have nothing to say. I am against violence and thuggery in politics. People should play by the rules because we shall still live together after the election. I, therefore, call for peace in Akpabuyo and urge constituents to remain calm as necessary modalities would be taken to investigate the matter.”
Reacting, the state’s commissioner of police, Sule Balarabe, said they were on top of the situation and had deployed a team to the area to restore normalcy. He warned those instigating crises that as security agencies won’t allow anyone to breach the peace of the local government area for any reason.
Balabare called on politicians in the state to adhere to the rules of engagement before, during and after this electioneering, calling for tolerance from all stakeholders.
