By Christopher Tom, Uyo
A widow, Mrs. Immaculate Sampson Akpan, has called on the government and well-meaning Nigerians for help after her husband was brutally beheaded in the ongoing communal clash between the Eket and Ibeno communities in Akwa Ibom State.
Investigations revealed that the late Sampson Akpan, a fisherman residing in the riverine area, was killed at Ndito Eka Iba village for allegedly acting as an informant against the Eket people in their land dispute with the Ibeno community.
An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the attack on Ndito Eka Iba village was the fourth in a series of violent incidents linked to the long-standing conflict.
“The attack on Ndito Eka Iba village in Ibeno LGA by assailants from Eket is the fourth in a series since the controversial remapping attempt by the past administration, a matter still pending in court,” the source disclosed.
Terror on Christmas Eve
Speaking to our correspondent in Ibeno, the grieving widow recalled that their community had lived in peace for years until the December 24, 2024, attack, which turned their lives upside down.
She recounted how the invaders stormed the village on Christmas Eve, destroying homes, churches, boats, cars, motorcycles, and fishing equipment, leaving many residents displaced.
“When our neighbors from Eket LGA launched the attack that night, we were caught unprepared,” she lamented.
According to her, the attack was triggered by a dispute over the name of a festival. The invaders had attempted to rename Ndito Eka Iba village as Okoiyak Ekid to reflect an Eket identity, but local youths opposed the move, leading to escalating tensions.
“That night, they attacked, forcing residents to flee into the dark shrub for safety. My husband was brutally killed, and his head was taken away by the attackers,” she recounted.
Now displaced, the widow and her four children have relocated to her home village, Odio in Eket LGA, where she struggles to survive without her fishing business.
“I have lost everything—my husband, my home, and my means of livelihood. Feeding and clothing my children have become a daily struggle,” she cried.
She appealed to the Akwa Ibom State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), religious organizations, and individuals for urgent relief and support for displaced victims.
Police Response
Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, confirmed that suspects had been arrested in connection with the violence and had been charged to court.
“Investigations have been concluded, and the case is now before the court. No one has the right to interfere in the legal process,” the commissioner stated.
The communal conflict between Eket and Ibeno remains a source of concern, with calls for urgent government intervention to prevent further bloodshed.
About Author
