People of Ibeno, an rich oil producing local government in Akwa Ibom State have taken to the streets to register their frustrations over persistent attacks on them

They noted that local and international investors, including Chinese firms in the area, are facing serious threat to their businesses, which according to them, if not addressed, could scare them away from their area.

They recalled that Ibeno, host to the defunct Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, MPNU, at the Qua Iboe Terminal, QIT, now Seplat Energy Producing Unlimited, SEPNU, and other allied oil servicing firms, had been subjected to frequent attacks on February 26, 2024, November 8, 2024 December 24, 2024 and February 10, 2025.
The affected communities, according to them, include: Iwuochang, Ndito Eka Iba, and Inua Eyet Ikot 11, which had suffered attacks twice by mercenaries allegedly sponsored by the Ekid People’s Union (EPU), their neighbors.

Addressing the forum after the protest, Chief Okon Udofia Okon, Secretary of the Ibeno Clan Council and Capt. Okpolo Emmanuel, President of the Ijaw Youths Council, IYC, Ibeno LGA chapter, regretted the inability of governments, especially the Umo Eno-led administration in the state, to provide security to local residents of oil communities.

“Government is not bothered about security in oil communities that produce resources that generate revenues to run Nigerian states. They allow Eket and Esit Eket to suppress and suffocate us because we choose to be peace – loving because of too many investors coming to do oil and gas businesses in our domain.

“The aggressors from Eket and Esit Eket are mistaking our silence for weakness because we know that if we react, the negative multiplier effects would be too much for the state and Nigeria because it will tell so much on the oil and gas infrastructure and job losses,” Chief Okon, noted.


https://dailypost.ng/2025/02/14/akwa-ibom-ibeno-communities-protest-over-incessant-attacks/