‘It’s causing ethnic tension’ – Ijaw youths caution Akwa Ibom government against remapping of communities

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) says the proposed remapping exercise in Akwa Ibom has put the lives of residents in Ibeno LGA at risk.

In 2023, the state house of assembly passed the Akwa Ibom state map establishment law for easy identification of boundaries and reducing communal conflicts.

However, Theophilus Alaye, IYC president, in a statement on Thursday said over the past two weeks, the neighbouring communities of Eket and Esit Eket have directed both physical and verbal threats towards the people of Ibeno.

Alaye said the remapping process introduced by the administration of the former governor of the state Udom Emmanuel, was designed to “promote an ethics war between the Ijaws and its neighbours in the state.”

“It is worthy of note that the people of Eket allocated Ibeno lands to themselves, while the land in question is before a court and there is an injunction restricting them from accessing the land,” he said.

“These provocative actions have been treated with kid gloves by the governor of the state and we see it as a move to promote an ethics war between the Ijaws and its neighbours in the state.

“The Ijaw nation will and cannot fold their arms when their sons and daughters’ lives and property are under severe attack by other ethnic groups.”

“Remapping of local government areas is not within the powers of a state government and as such the Ijaw nation will never accept any politically motivated remapping and further balkanisation of our people for whatever reasons.”