Lawmaker, Emem Udom, makes case for victims of 2017 deadly cult war in Ukanafun, Etim Ekpo

Lawmaker, Emem Udom, makes case for victims of 2017 deadly cult war in Ukanafun, Etim Ekpo

The member representing Ukanafun state constituency in the Akwa Ibom state house of assembly, Emem Udom, Tuesday, spoke in favour of victims of the 2017 deadly cult clashes in Ukanafun, Etim Ekpo and parts of Oruk Anam local government areas of the state, calling for their rehabilitation and compensation.

Mr Udom, in his motion at plenary, reminded the House that the crisis led by the late Akaninyene Jumbo, better known as Iso Kpafid, resulted in the destruction of property, loss of lives and means of livelihood, as well as near collapse of socio-economic, political and religious activities of the people.

According to Udom, “the crisis which was seen as a cult clash for supremacy, was believed to have had political undertone. It led to the collapse of local administration and schools were shut down in the affected areas.

“The reasons adduced by the hoodlums for their grievances against the government that made them take up arms and caused instability in their areas were poor social amenities, lack of government attention to their communities for several decades, lack of good public schools and lack of employment opportunities.

“It was a reign of terror and impunity by these set of hoodlums who stole food crops, livestock and other items from their owners at will.

“It was like a near breakdown of law and order, as security operatives including the army, mobile police force, Directorate of State Services (DSS) and other special security teams deployed to the areas couldn’t contend the situation”.

Udom disclosed that the situation which deteriorated on a daily basis also resulted in the killing of security operatives with their arms snatched and vehicles set ablaze by the hoodlums, while the victims abandoned their homes, businesses and sought refuge in neighboring towns.

He said following a reconciliatory meeting between the hoodlums, the government and security agencies, a peace deal was signed, while the state government announced rehabilitation and empowerment for the hoodlums.

Udom however expressed worry that years after the peace deal, those affected by the crisis have not had any form of meeting or received any compensation from government or its agencies.

“Well documented record has it that more than 200 persons were reportedly killed, hundreds kidnapped, property including vehicles, businesses and houses were burnt.

“The aged, clergy, students, civil servants, politicians, farmers and business people were not spared whenever the heavily armed hoodlums decide to go on rampage.

“A promising young son of Ukanafun and first class accounting graduate, Inibehe Idiong, had his life cut short by the bullets of these blood sucking hoodlums.

“The victims who are still kicking their wounds are yet to be reintegrated back to society, as their homes and means of livelihood have all been destroyed.

“Most disturbing of the issue is that while the victims are living in anguish, the perpetrators have since moved on with their lives. They have been forgiven, trained and empowered by government with little or no consequences for their crimes”.

“The hoodlums who killed and maimed people without mercy got juicy empowerment programmes from the government. They were made to acquire good skills and the government spent billions of naira to rehabilitate and make them human beings, while the direct victims of the atrocities who are still kicking their wounds today, including those whose homes and means of livelihood were destroyed, are yet to be reintegrated into society. All the empowerment items and equipment the former administration bought for those blood sucking hoodlums were sold out, today they’re back on the streets again to cause another crisis in the local government area”

Udom prayed the House to urge the state government to constitute a reconciliation and compensation committee to interface with the victims, as well as mandate the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to commence immediate release of relief materials to the victims while the House Committee on Security would ensure compliance.

Speaker of the House, Udeme Otong, referred the matter to the Committee on Security, Youths and Sports, to liaise with the government’s ministry of internal security to find a lasting solution to the issue.

The House also entertained a motion for the creation of additional state constituencies in Akwa Ibom State to aid effective representation of the people at the legislative level and spread dividends of democracy in the state.

Sponsor of the motion, Asuquo Nana Udo (YPP, Ikono state constituency), noted that Akwa Ibom State was long overdue for additional state constituencies to ensure political advancement of the state.

Udo stated in his motion that, “the creation of 39 new political wards across the three senatorial districts of the State by Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) has not only delimited our political wards but has also prepared us for national political expansion”.

Rt. Hon. Asuquo Udo relied on Section 91 of the Nigeria Constitution which holds that, “the state assemblies shall consist of three or four times the number of seats which that State has in the House of Representatives divided in a way to reflect, as far as possible nearly equal population: Provided that a House of Assembly of a State shall consist of not less than twenty-four (24) and not more than forty (40) members.”

Similarly, the House considered a motion urging the State Government to prioritise the establishment and modernization of libraries, laboratories, and ICT unit in secondary Schools within the State, sponsored by Udobia Friday Udo of Esit Eket/Ibeno state constituency.

Other motions discussed at plenary included that of the completion of Nsit Atai-Oron road project sponsored by Effiong Johnson (Mbo state constituency), flood menace in Ikot Isighe, Ikot Obiokoi, Ikot Etefia Ukam and Ikot Akpaden communities in Mkpat Enin local government area sponsored by Uwem Peter Imoh-Itah (Mkpat Enin state constituency) and the urgent need to intervene on a gully erosion affected areas in Eman Uruan in Uruan local government area, sponsored by Itoro-Obong Etim of Uruan state constituency.

Earlier, the member representing Etinan state constituency, Uduakobong Ekpo-Ufot, brought a matter of urgent public importance on the crisis in Ndon-Eyo community in Etinan local government area which, he noted, had caused destruction of lives and property of the people and as well displaced members of the affected communities.