Residents of Essien Udim Local government area of Akwa Ibom State
have vacated their communities following the military bombardment in the
council to tackle the attacks on security personnel in the area by
hoodlums suspected to be members of Eastern Security Network.
A source who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent that a combined
military offensive that began at midnight on Monday ended about noon on
Tuesday and saw the deployment of helicopters and drones for aerial
surveillance while ground troops moved to dislodge and flush out
criminal elements.
Recall that Essien Udim which is Senator Godswill Akpabio’s LGA has
been under siege for over one month by hoodlums who had targeted and
killed police officers, military personnel and destroyed their
facilities in the state.
The attack started precisely on February 2021, at Ikpe Annang
junction, where a police Inspector was set ablaze inside a police Van,
others on duty that night fled for safety.
Later in the months, the bandits attacked the Ikot Afanga community
in the same LGA and killed an Inspector of Police identified as Aniekan,
while a divisional police station, in the LGA, was also set ablaze by
the hoodlums and police vans destroyed.
Just last week Tuesday, three police officers including a Chief
Superintendent of Police, Ben Ajide were killed in a failed reprisal
operation, while four officers were declared missing after the
operation.
The military bombardment on Tuesday was specifically targeted against
criminals in Ikot Akpan forest suspected to be harbouring the criminals
in the local government.
The military had on Monday asked residents to vacate areas suspected to be used as camps by the criminals.
Staff and students of the Federal Polytechnic Ukana in Essien Udim,
located few metres from Akpabio’s residence were forced out of the
school campus. The Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic in Ikot Ekpene was also
shut.
A lecturer in the University who pleaded anonymity but confirmed the
bombardment in the morning said, “well, the bombardment started in the
early hours of today. I learnt they sent advance notification that the
civilians should vacate the said areas before moving in this morning.
So, the aerial bombardment and the support troops, I think it started
this morning around 8am or so. Most students from the Polytechnic could
hear the fighters jets and the gunshots. It was an offensive to flush
out criminals within three major communities in Essien Udim LGA, the
communities are Uwa, Ikot Afanga, Ikot Akpan communities all in the
local government” he said.
Also, another resident of the community who identified himself as
Akpan said the bombardment was a great relief to the communities who
have experienced criminal attacks specially targeted at the police in
local communities.
“Yes, there had been cases of insecurity of late with the hoodlums
targeting police officers and establishments and of course the military
had to come in. Advanced notice was sent to the communities to vacate
the areas”
He expressed the hope that the bombardment will bring an end to series of criminals attacks in the locality.
Another resident said, “We woke up this morning with a strange sound
of gunshots and a military helicopter hovering around the entire village
with fearful sounds. Although we heard information about nobody knew it
was going to be that fearful. So, I instructed my wife and children to
remain indoors throughout the exercise.
“I don’t know how many people were arrested by the army but what I
know is that they carried out an aerial surveillance of the entire
community in the LGA.”
