A’Ibom Oil workers attack: Community calls for investigation, says unpatriotic, unwaranted

The Unyenge community in Mbo local government council of Akwa Ibom state has condemned last Thursday’s attack on workers of the Universal Energy Resource Limited, describing the act as unacceptable and unpatriotic.

The position of the community was disclosed by the Chairman, Council of Chiefs of Unyenge community, Chief Ovong Xavier Ekpe, yesterday during a press briefing.

He condemned the unfortunate incident, saying such has never happened in the history of the community’s relationship with UERL which has been operating in the area for more than a decade.

Consequently, the community distanced itself from the attack and called for a full-proof investigation into the incident to unravel the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

Reminiscing the standoff, armed men suspected to be militants in the early hours of Thursday, January 20, 2022, planted dynamites along the road leading to the UERL, and when it exploded and failed to hit a target, they opened fire on the workers, killing the driver, and injuring two security officers.

In a written statement read by the Secretary, Unyenge Development Union, Elder Edet Edietteh, the monarch sympathized with the families of the deceased, saying such action could only have come from enemies of the land, to paint the community in a bad light.

According to him on the recent attack on the staff of the Universal Energy Resource Limited,” the chiefs, the elders and the Youths of Unyenge community regret the unforeseen incident that took place on the 20th of January, this month, where two members of the police and staff of the Universal Energy Resource Limited were attacked by the hoodlums.

“The community really frowns at the inhuman and unpatriotic act and do sympathise with the families of the victims of the attacks, the UERL family, and the government of Akwa Ibom state.

“The community sees such act as unacceptable, unpatriotic, devoid of the character of Unyenge people. Such dastardly act must have been caused by enemies of Unyenge people and that of Oron nation at large, with the intent to paint the people in a bad light.

“We strongly disassociate ourselves from the activities of the attackers and reassure the government of Akwa Ibom state that Unyenge community is safe for any form of investment

“We, therefore, called on the state government and security agencies to use their might to unravel the perpetrators of this crime with a view towards bringing them to book. Whoever is found culpable should be made to face the full weight of the law” the monarch said.

Speaking at the scene of the incident, a community leader and President Akwa Ibom state community in Rivers State, Evangelist Bassey Empima said, “we are not known for this kind of act, we don’t think there is anybody in the community that can be part of this heinous crime because since this community has been in existence and the UERL has been working here for a long time, more than a decade, we have never witnessed this kind of development before”.

He called on the state government to beef up security in the area to prevent further reoccurrence of the incident.

The President of Unyenge Development Union, Mr. Effiong Ekpo, while lamenting the frequent attacks on fishermen by suspected militants also called on the federal government to station a Naval gunboat near the creeks leading to Unyenge community to forestall future attacks.

“As a riverine community, we have suffered an unwarranted attack by militants who attack and seize our goods, engine boats and others, So we want the government to reactivate the naval Base and station a gunboat near the creeks leading to Unyenge community,” he said.