The peaceful community of Itiam Etoi in Uyo Local Government was on
Tuesday night thrown into chaos when a number of Hausa men attacked
them, leaving a number of them wounded.
According to a source at
the scene of the incidence, who preferred anonymity, "the attacks began
at about 10 pm when some people had slept. It would have been worse if
there were many people on the street. They started cutting anybody they
met on their way with machetes and clubs. Some of them carried iron rods
and other forms of weapons with which they beat and wound people. They
also destroyed the properties of people selling shops in the area".
When this reporter asked about the cause of the attacks, another source
said it involves a case of a stolen generator which was sold to one of
the Hausa men. When the owner of the generator found out that the
generator was sold to the scrap collectors, he apprehended them and the
case was thought to have been settled, until last night.
The
source said the problem started when the man who bought the generator
was another of his Hausa kinsman whom ha accused of selling him out by
reporting to the owner of the generator that the generator was sold to
him and started to fight with him. An attempt by an Ibibio man in the
area to separate the fight led to one of the fighting parties
insinuating that the Ibibio man sided with his brother to beat him. He
then went to his people to tell his brothers, who reinforced and went
with him to attack anyone they met on the street.
One of the
victims, Mr. Itoro, said "I was sitting in front of our house when I saw
them running with machetes towards me. But because I didn't have any
problem with anyone I was not afraid, only for the to cut me in the face
and continued to run on".
Another victim, Mr. Ezekiel, said "I
went to see my friend in the area only to see they running towards my
direction. Since I did not know there was a problem, I was just walking
on the street going back to my house. One of them lifted his machet to
cut me in the head and when I blocked it with my hand, he cut my hand
again and again. That is when I knew the matter was serious and started
running".
The man with the highest level of injuries, Mr. Ubong
Okon, said they met him on his way back from work and descended on him.
"I sure they wanted to kill me, but God saved my life as some youths who
were drinking nearby came to my rescue. I thank God that I am still
alive".
When news men contacted the village head of the
community, Eteidung Effiong Asikpo, he declined comment. But, the
Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rev. (Dr.) Ndueso
Ekwere, while speaking to this reporter called for calm as everything
will be brought under control "I want to urge the people to stay calm as
the police and the authorities have waded into the matter. I also want
to urge all law-abiding citizens to go about their normal duties as
culprits will be made to face the full weight of the law".
Meanwhile, youths in the community have declared that they don't want
the Hausa men in their community again. The youths who came out in their
numbers chanted war songs, calling on the "abokis" to evacuate their
communities since they are no more safe in their own land. "Aboki must
go... Aboki must go... Aboki must go ..." they chanted.
Meanwhile, some shop owners in the area have closed their shops, fearing another spate of attacks.
The Hausa men have been evacuated from the community by the police to an undisclosed location.
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