TENSION is brewing in Ikot Akpan community in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State as gunmen suspected to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra on Monday clashed with security operatives in the state.

It was gathered that during the clash, IPOB members repelled the security operatives and hoisted a Biafra flag in the community

The PUNCH further learnt that the palace of the village head of the community was torched and security vehicles destroyed during the clash which lasted several hours.

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Recalled that two Police inspectors had been set ablaze and a divisional police station burnt down in a planned and coordinated attacks carried out by suspected gunmen in the same local government area in the last one month.

A source, who pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent in Uyo, the state capital, that the incident occurred when policemen were drafted to carry out a reprisal against the IPOB members alleged to be behind the targetted attacks on police formations and killing of police officers in the state

The source said, “Nobody knew who were behind the attacks in Essien Udim until members of IPOB pursued the community and hoisted their flag. When the police stormed their camp yesterday (Monday), they repelled them.

“After burning the security officers’ house early hours of the morning, the police went to their camp about 4pm same Monday to attack them. They went in three Hilux vans. People fled the community.


“The police took war to their camp. And they even burnt the house of the village head of Ikot Akpan village in Ukana Uwa West clan of Essien Udim. They have their camp in that area.

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“Information has it that they are even training Eastern Security Network. In fact, we learnt that it is the same way they are operating in other states.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Odiko Macdon, has yet to confirm the attack as of the time of filing this report as he could neither pick calls nor respond to text messages sent to his phone.