Soldiers guarding an oil firm in Ete, a coastal community in Ikot Abasi local government area of Akwa Ibom State have clash with youths protesting the death of a youth activist in the area.
One of the soldiers allegedly shot and killed the youth activists who had accosted them for extorting money from motorists in the area. The accident happened Wednesday morning. According to a community member Effiong Ekwere the soldiers were chasing after a truck driver who had failed to settle them, an action that infuriated the angry youths, who engaged one of them in a duel with the intent to disarm him.
The officer was said to have shot at the victim to scare and free himself from the mob, resulting in his instant death, it escalated the violence. For several hours the Ikot Abasi session of the East-West Road was blocked, and travelers were stranded.
“There was crisis in Ete in Ikot Abasi LGA, an Army man that was on official duty at the Sterling Global company shot one of the community boys dead today, and they had shot another person dead as at last week.
“As a result of that, the community has now risen to tell them that enough is enough. That they should concentrate on doing their official duty at the company and leave the innocent citizens to be.
“For this, and other atrocious behaviours of the Army in the community, the youths set five of their trucks ablaze, including one bus and a Hilux van. Please, we are waiting for peace talk and government intervention on the issue,” Leadership quoted one of the community members.
Military and police sources said the situation have been brought under control and according to Akwa Ibom police spokesperson DSP Timfon John investigations are currently on going.
