No casualties from communal clash- Police

Nigeria-police

The Akwa Ibom Police Command has refuted claims that its personnel deployed to quell the communal clash between Ikot Akpan Udo and Amazaba communities suffered casualties.

“No policeman sustained an injury during the crisis,” the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Cordelia Nwawe told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday.

“None of the personnel was injured. All our personnel performed their duties professionally. There is high police visibility and peace has returned to the area”.

Nwawe noted that the policemen were professional in quelling the crisis that resurfaced on Nov 21 after some respite.

Rumours were rife that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Ikot Abasi Division, SP Inyang Abia and seven others were wounded as a result of the sporadic gunshots fired during the crisis.

The people of Amazaba in Eastern Obolo Local Government Area and Ikot Akpan Udo in Ikot Abasi LG a neighbouring community had been feuding intermittently over a boundary dispute.

Meanwhile, the Paramount Ruler of Ikot Abasi, Edidem Udo Ntukobom, has sued for peace, enjoining the two communities to live in peace as brothers.

Ntukobom, then, appealed to the Akwa Ibom State Government to come to the rescue of the people of the area to avoid further escalation of the conflict.

He pleaded with the government to evolve measures aimed at forestalling the lingering crisis noting, that the hardship of the people be cushioned.

The Transition Chairman of Ikot Abasi LG, Mr. Ubong Uquang, also urged the government to release the White Paper on the crisis.

Uquang noted that the unfortunate development had created serious disaffection among the two communities that once lived in harmony.

He enjoined the people of Ikot Akpan Udo to remain calm as the government would not hesitate to deal decisively with the perpetrators, to serve as deterrent to others.