This is not the first time the Mbiabong-Ukwa community has been allegedly targeted by the Isu community.
By TheInvestigator
The Mbiabong-Ukwa community in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State was allegedly attacked by the Isu community in Abia State on Saturday, May 11th, 2024. The attackers, who were reportedly aided by men in military uniforms, destroyed properties worth millions of naira and killed several people, mostly elderly and children.
This is not the first time the Mbiabong-Ukwa community has been allegedly targeted by the Isu community. A community member, Okon Odiong Ekpenyong who wrote to our newsroom alleges that the attacks are motivated by a desire to seize the rich limestone resources located in Mbiabong-Ukwa land.
The Mbiabong-Ukwa community is calling for help from both the Cross River State and Federal Governments to stop the attacks and protect their land. They have pleaded with Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong Jr., Hon. Bassey Akiba, and Governor Prince Bassey Edet Otu to intervene.
Read the full message sent to our newsroom below.
DELIBERATE TERRITORIAL LAND GRABBING: MBIABONG-UKWA PEOPLE IN ODUKPANI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF CROSS RIVER STATE MOURNS, CRY FOR HELP FROM BOTH CROSS RIVER STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS, AS ISU COMMUNITY IN ABIA STATE INVADE THEIR VILLAGE, KILL VILLAGERS AND DESTROY PROPERTIES WORTH MILLIONS OF NAIRA WITH THE HELP OF MEN ON MILITARY UNIFORM.
Saturday the 11th day of May 2024, will forever remain an unforgettable day in the life and history of the Mbiabong-Ukwa Eburutu people in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State, as it was a day hell was let loose as Isu Community in Ihechiowa Local Government Area of Abia State with the help of some men on Military Uniform invaded Mbiabong Ukwa Community, leaving behind wanton destruction of properties worth Millions of Naira and death of so many Mbiabong people, mostly, the aged and children who could not run, while others have been kidnapped and taken away.
The continuous aggression, wanton destruction of properties, and killing of Mbiabong Ukwa people by the Isu Community in Abia State with the help of men in Military Uniform over the years has gone on without checks and help also seems not to be coming from anywhere to the helpless Mbiabong Ukwa people as the Isu Community in Abia State has vowed to wipe off Mbiabong Ukwa from the surface of the earth, strongly supported by rich and wealthy Isu leaders and other persons from Abia State to take over the rich limestone embedded in Mbiabong land by God.
It should be known to the entire world that Mbiabong-Ukwa-Eburutu in particular, or the entire Ukwa Eburutu community has no known common boundary with the Isu Community like the invaders, Isu would want people to believe. The constant killing and invasion of the Mbiabong-Ukwa Community to destroy properties disguised in communal land conflict is a deliberate territorial land grabbing orchestrated by certain wealthy people in Abia State and targeted at the limestone and other mineral resources in Mbiabong Ukwa land.
It beats every imagination, if not that it is a well-calculated plan, in this 21st century, that Isu people will leave wherever they are in Abia State to come to Mbiabong Ukwa to fish in their fish ponds and farm in their lands at intervals with so much impunity and any warning from Mbiabong people that Isu people should stay away from their fish pond which is the only major source of income to the Mbiabong Ukwa people who are predominantly fishermen and farmers, draws the anger of Isu community, who would invade Mbiabong Ukwa with men on Military uniform wielding sophisticated weapons and would leave behind deaths of so many persons who cannot run and destruction of properties.
The Saturday 11th of May, 2024 destruction of Mbiabong Ukwa by the Isu Community which also saw the killing of Mr. Ediong Ediong Essien, and his wife, Madam Ekpitu Ediong Essien; another young boy Asuquo Ndem and many others kidnapped and taken away, was made very possible because Mbiabong Ukwa in particular and the entire Ukwa Eburutu Community, in general, do not have motorable roads that people can use faster mobility to run, and no electricity for people to charge their phones and call for help.
The killing of the Mbiabong Ukwa people by Isu Community in Abia State and the entire Ukwa Ibom-Efik Eburutu Community by their neighbors in Abia State, masterminded by those who are interested in the rich mineral resources in Ukwa Eburutu land has become unbearable and the Ukwa people calls for help from both the Federal and Cross River State governments to avoid our total elimination from the surface of the earth as promised by our neighboring Igbo communities.
While we pray that the government will come to our aid, we wish to draw the attention of the Senator representing Cross River South in the Senate, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong Jr.; the Member Representing Calabar Municipality/Odukpani Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Hon. Bassey Akiba; the House of Assembly Member Representing Odukpani State Constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly and other good spirited Cross Riverians to please take our cry to both the State and Federal Governments. Do not watch until we are totally eliminated from the surface of the earth.
To our dear State governor, His Excellency, Prince Bassey Edet Otu, Ukwa Eburutu stood by you and we will always stand by you, help Ukwa Ibom-Efik Eburutu land, please.
Okon Odiong Ekpenyong Esu writes from Ukwa Ibom-Efik Eburutu, Odukpani Local Government Area, Cross River State.
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