OVER 20 people died yesterday in Oku-Iboku, Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State following an attack by hoodlums from Ikot Offiong community of Odukpani Local Government Area in Cross River State.
Daily Sun gathered that the hoodlum alleged to be youths from Ikot Offiong deployed machine guns which they mounted on their speedboats besides other rifles and hand grenades to attack their victims, which resulted in scores of deaths and destruction of property worth millions of naira.
A native of Oku Iboku, Dr. Demson Ekong, told newsmen in Uyo that some of those killed included women and children.
Ekong said nine corpses of fishermen had earlier been recovered on Saturday and more corpses were still being recovered as at yesterday afternoon.
“Ikot Offiong people and those Cross River State Government hired to exterminate us came to our area two days ago, and killed many fishermen, women and girls who were returning from farms. We are still recovering the corpses, but as at yesterday, we recovered nine, excluding those killed on Friday.
“They mounted machine guns on their speed boats and shot sporadically at their targets. The soldiers guarding the border between Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, escaped for their lives. It was after some hours that they called for reinforcement and during the time of military reinforcement, the boys were still firing for over 30 minutes before they finally fled.
“Apart from those killed, they also took away seven persons alive to a fishing settlement near Ibom Le’ Meridien Hotel in Uruan Local Government Area and burnt down the entire settlement. Three of the boys dived into the river and escaped to a village in Uruan community, where they were shown the way back to Oku Iboku.’’
Meanwhile, Akwa Ibom Police Command has confirmed the incident, though the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Chukwu Ikechukwu, could not disclosed the casualty figures.
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