Community condemns attack on Universal Energy Resources personnel

The Unyenge community in Akwa Ibom has condemned the attack on staff of Universal Energy Resources Ltd (UERL) that led to the death of one personnel.

The Chairman, Unyenge Community Council of Chiefs, Ovong Xavier Ekpe, made the position of the community known at a press conference in Unyenge in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom.

Ekpe said that such incident had never happened in the history of the community’s relationship with the oil firm, which has been operating in the area.

Our Correspondent reports that the Police Public Relations Officer in Akwa Ibom, SP Odiko Macdon had confirmed the killing of one person with two others injured as unknown gunmen allegedly attacked UERL on Jan. 20.

Ekpe, whose message was read by the community Secretary, Mr. Edet Edietteh, sympathised with the families of the victims, saying that such acts could only have come from enemies of the land to paint the community in bad light.

Ekpe called on the State Government and the relevant security agencies to investigate the attack to bring the perpetrators to book to serve as deterrent to others.

“We, in the community all condemn the recent attack on the company and regret the unforeseen incident, that took place on the 20th of January, where two members of the police and a staff of the company were attacked by the hoodlums.

“The community really frowns at the inhuman and unpatriotic act and do sympathise with the families of the victims of the attack, the UERL family and the Government of Akwa Ibom.

“The community sees such act as unacceptable, unpatriotic, devoid of the character of Unyenge people.

“Such dastardly act must have been caused by enemies of Unyenge people and that of Oron at large, with the intent to paint the people in bad light.

“We strongly disassociate ourselves from the activities of the attackers and reassure the Government of Akwa Ibom that Unyenge community is safe for any form of investment.

“We therefore call on the State Government and security agencies to use their might to unravel the perpetrators of this crime with a view to bringing them to book.

“Whoever is found culpable should be made to face the full weight of the law,” Ekpe said.

Mr. Bassey Ekpimah, a community leader and President Akwa Ibom Community in Rivers, said the people of Unyenge within and outside condemned the attack on the oil firm.

He called on the state government to beef up security in the area to prevent reoccurrence of such incident in the community.

“We are not known for this kind of act. We don’t think there is anybody in the community that can be part of this heinous crime.

“Since this community has been in existence and the Universal Energy has been working here for a long time, more than a decade, we have never witnessed this kind of development before.

“As a riverine community, we have suffered unwarranted attack by militants, who attack and seize our goods, engine boats and others.

“So, we want government to station a gunboat near the creeks leading to Unyenge community,” he said.