One dead, 60 houses razed as friends fight over girlfriend in Akwa Ibom (Photo)

One person was killed, 60 houses razed and over 400
persons rendered homeless in a disgraceful inter-
communal crisis that broke out, weekend, between
youths of Ikot Umiang and Ikot Edah communities,
Nkpat Enin Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.
Niger Delta Voice learned that the fracas that caused
extensive havoc to the residences of the Village Head
of Ikot Edah, Ete Idung Sunday Usoro, and councillor
representing Ikpa Ikono, Ward 2, Mr. Nkreuwem
James, was kindled by a dispute between two boys
from both communities over a girlfriend.
Besides property running into millions of naira and
money that were looted, about 40 motorcycles,
bicycles and ancestral heritages were torched. Two
cars belonging to the monarch were also destroyed.
A dependable source told Niger Delta Voice
: "A young man, who hails from Ikot Umiang and
residing in Ikot Edah had a minor misunderstanding
with his friend, an indigene of Ikot Edah, over a lady
both of them had dated previously.
"What really transpired between them is not clear. But
it was so serious that in the evening of the following
day, when the Ikot Umiang boy was passing through
Ikot Edah after his normal business, the Ikot Edah-
based lover boy and his gang waylaid and stabbed
him to death."
RevengeIn an apparent reprisal attack, youths of Ikot
Umiang invaded Ikot Edah at about 8a.m with guns,
machetes, axes, fuel and other dangerous weapons,
burning all the houses in the
community.
The invaders manhandled aged people, especially the
women who tried to plead with them.
Our source said inhabitants of the community, mainly
peasant farmers and traders, were setting out for their
farms and shops on the ill-fated day, when the
invaders stormed the town.
A villager, Aniete Bradforth, said: "
The Ikot Umiang youths came in like soldier ants with
guns, petrol and matches and before we knew what
was happening, this house (pointing to a residence)
was on fire.
"They beat up a 90-year-old woman, who lives here,
leaving her with injuries all over her body."
The village head, Usoro, said:
"I watched my house set ablaze with N2 million cash
inside."
Usoro said he was on his way to the Police Station to
lodge a report that a corpse was abandoned in the
community when armed youths of Ikot Umiang
invaded Ikot Edah.
He said the attacking youths were armed, but that
police were able to make some arrests.
A fish seller, who is in her 60s, Mmayen Bassey,
bemoaned: "I have been keeping money in my
wrapper for over 10 years to buy a piece of land. It
has amounted to over N200,000. Today, I am as good
as dead as they all got burnt; not even to talk about
my goods."
Niger Delta Voice observed during a visit that the
houses in Ikot Edah were completely razed. There was
uneasy calm in the community as victims wailed and
called on government and public-spirited individuals
to come to their assistance.