GOV. EMMANUEL VISITS IKOT OBIO NSO COMMUNITY ; COMMISERATES WITH VICTIMS OF SUSPECTED HERDSMEN ATTACK

By Tony Okechukwu

Alarmed by the gruesome murder of citizen Friday Udo Etor, a farmer and an indigene of Ikot Obio Nso in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State by suspected Fulani Herdsmen, the State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel has visited the community to commiserate with the deceased family and victims of the attack.

Addressing the people of Ikot Obio Nso, Ikpa Ikono clan where the dastardly act took place, Governor Emmanuel who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, said preying on the lives of the people of the state by suspected Fulani herdsmen will not be accepted.

He said : "Governor Udom Emmanuel is very saddened and unhappy by this unprovoked attack on our people.

"He called me by 1am in the midnight and asked me to be here this morning to  console the people and calm frayed nerves. Although we are peaceful and civilized in Akwa Ibom state,  the elasticity of our patience is not infinite. As it is said in science when the limit of elasticity is exhausted there must be rupture and we do not want that".

He directed the state Police Command and other security agencies to fish out perpetrators of the violence which also left an eleven year old boy,  Master Nsikak Sylvanus Udoh hospitalised following bullet wounds.

He  assured of Government's readiness to protect the lives and property of citizens of the state and cautioned against all forms of unlawful acts.

"....be assured that all hands are on deck with the Governor as the Chief Security officer of the state pushing for it , with support from all of us those murderers would be arrested and security of life and property would be guaranteed," he assured.

Narrating the ordeal, Chairman of Ikot Obio Nso Village Council, Chief George Okodi, informed the Governor that the incident occurrred yesterday at Ndon Enyin farm at about 9a.m..

He explained that the deceased went to his farm and to his utter surprise met a herd of cattle feeding on his crops and he accosted the herdsmen in a bid to stop them from destroying his crops but they resisted him and in the ensued disagreement the herdsmen pull a trigger on him and he died .

The incident attracted members of the community who were equally attacked by the herdsmen with people sustaining injuries from gun shots.

He thanked the state government for promptly responding to the crisis and call on the government to beef up security in the area.

Earlier, the Council Chairman Mr Ekanem Brown who described the Governor's visit as a morale booster to the community, regretted that the peace of the Ikot Obio Nso Community has been compromised with the invasion of the herdsmen .

He said that the community is noted for it peaceful disposition and wondered why the herdsmen should unleash mayhem on the people .

 According to him, "Your personal visit through the SSG speaks volume of your love for Mkpat Enin people and the fact that we took the right decision by voting you for a second tenure.

" sir, we have been doing our best to calm the youths. Emotions were very high yesterday I believe this visit will calm our youths.

"I join you to request that our security officials should not spare any effort at ensuring that justice is served. Please our youths and elders, let us remain peaceful", he advised.

House of Assembly Member for the Area, Hon. Victor Ekwere expressed surprise at the incident and regretted the murder of Late Friday Etor, saying that he was a hardworking and struggling man and prayed for the repose of his soul.

The House Member urged the youths to maintain calm and assured them that the state government will ensure that justice is done .

The Commissioner for Environment and Petroleum Resources, Barr. Ekong Sampson who was part of the delegation, regretted the dastardly act but commended the youths of the community for their calmness, stressing that security agents have swung into action and assured that the perpetrators would be fished out and made to face the law.

The Youth Leader Mr Emmanuel Sylvester Udo,  who spoke on behalf of the community, thanked the Governor for his prompt response to the urgly incident which has enveloped the community.

"We want to see that justice is served and not stopping there but made public so that it must be seen that the culprits are brought to book . I challenge the security agencies to investigate how herders acquired firearms", he stated.

He called on the government to provide adequate security in the area, saying that they are not known for violence and assured that the people will continue to remain law abiding and sustain the peace in the community.

On the Governor's entourage were Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security Mr John Jude and Special Assistant to the Governor on Local Media, Mr Emmanuel Sam.