Agrrieved leaders and youths of oil communities of Ibeno at home, and in the diaspora have expressed dismay on the concocted lies against them in a section of the media by Eket and Esit Eket Local Government neighbours a fortnight ago.

Uyo Infomedia gathered that, few days after an arson attack was allegedly launched on the sleepy community of Inua Eyet Ikot in Ibeno LGA, by Eket aggressors, leading to burning of homes and injuries to many local residents, Eket people issued a counter disposition, accusing lbeno, of also targeting and attacking their community, for opposing their agitation for the creation of Obolo State in Akwa Ibom.

While identifying Eket and Esit Eket LGAs, as trouble makers fomenting series of boundary disputes against Ibeno over the years, Ibeno leaders in a communique at the end of their emergency meeting held at Ulok Ulok Hall in Upenekang, headquarters of Ibeno Area Council, vowed to sue Eket for defamation and libel should they failed to recant the allegations and apologize.

The communique signed by the spokesman of the Ibeno apex socio-cultural organisation – Ulok Ulok Progressives Assembly (UUPA), Chief Udofia Okon Udofia, and made available to journalists at the weekend, wondered why Governor Umo Eno – led State Government could not stop the perennial skirmishes in Ibeno ancestral land over the years.

“Our attention has been drawn to a reckless, inflammatory, and dangerous publications titled “Outfall of Obolo State Failure: Ibeno Miscreants Invade Eket Village, Damage Building”.

“The vile piece riddled with half truths, unfounded allegations, and ethnic profiling deliberately targeted at the industrious people of Ibeno LGA.

“We reject in the strongest terms this cowardly attempt to incite public hatred and ethnic tensions through unguarded utterances and twisted historical fabrications.

“Contrary to the false narrative being peddled, the real tragedy occurred not in Eket, but in Ibeno. On Friday, 1st August 2025, the peaceful community of Inua Eyet Ikot in Ibeno LGA, was attacked by criminal elements from Eket leading to the loss of lives, several people injured, destruction of residential buildings and properties.

“In the wake of this unprovoked aggressions, the Executive Chairman of Ibeno, Hon. Glory Ekah Effiong, who always sue for peace in Eket and Esit Eket Local Government Areas, immediately mobilized humanitarian support by visiting the victims, provided reliefs to the injured, and shelter for the displaced.

“Her intervention demonstrated true leadership and compassion in the face of unjustifiable act of violence by Eket neighbours.

“There is no verifiable report anywhere, either with the Akwa Ibom State Police Command, the Department of State Services, or local security formations, confirming any so called “Ibeno invasion” of Ine Iko Ibiok village in Esit Eket.That story is a fictitious tale, planted to provoke unrest and malign the peace loving people of Ibeno,” the statement said.

The leaders, who frowned at what they described as wanton exhibition of sentiments to attract undue sympathy in order to cover up years of atrocities against the peace – loving people of Ibeno said, such is a display of infantile narrative aimed at dragging the name of their leaders and the Executive Chairman in the mud.

“The fabrication of crude criminalities against a people is not only defamatory, but deliberate act of political blackmail and ethnic scapegoating. We will not sit idly to watch, while the image of our leaders is dragged through the mud by frustrated political elements in Eket and Esit Eket LGAs,” the group warned.

They identified those fanning the flames of disunity with inciting rhetorics and publications as notable political appointees, elected officials, and retired politicians in Eket and Esit Eket LGAs

“These political schemers from Eket and Esit Eket LGAs hold a history of tribal commentary and antagonistic rhetoric towards Ibeno people,” they recalled, explaining that, their quest for a separate State was borne out of these barefaced hatred, marginalisation and intimidating schemes.

“It is on record that, from 2024 February till date, Ibeno communities have suffered multiple attacks from Eket neighbours. In all these, it is our conviction that the State government and the State Police Command know the actors without calling them to order.

“Our belief is that you don’t throw stones if you live in a glass house. On the whole, there is a limit for human endurance and a word they say, is enough for the wise.The quest for Obolo State was a legitimate constitutional advocacy by the coastal communities seeking development equity, not aggression.

The agitation for Obolo State, like every other group in Nigeria, is a reflection of the country’s federal character struggles and not an excuse for slanderous historical revisionism.

“To describe Ibeno people as “slaves” and “refugees” is a hateful lie from the pit of bigotry. Ibeno nationality predates colonial Nigeria, and our ancestors have inhabited and fished our coastline for centuries. No amount of historical manipulation can erase this truth.

“We demand the immediate retraction of that inciting publication and lies from Eket and Esit Eket people. We will not hesitate to pursue legal redress, both for the libel against our leaders and the defamation of our collective identity.

“We call on Governor Umo Eno, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, the Department of State Services, and traditional rulers across Eket Senatorial District to urgently investigate the libelous publication, bring its sponsors to book, to prevent a breakdown of peace in our coastal belt.

“Let it be known that we will not be cowed. The dignity, heritage, and peace of Ibeno must be respected, just as we have consistently respected our neighbours. “