THE lingering hostility between Adiasim and Ekpenyong Atai 11communities in Essien Udim local government area of Akwa Ibom heightened last weekend as youths of the two communities engaged in a fight that disrupted a burial ceremony.
Vanguard gathered that what started as a mere disagreement over a girl degenerated into a full blown battle as the youths of Ekpenyong Atai 11, were alleged to have launched an offensive on their neighbours of Adiasim Ikot Akaan which led several sympathizers at the funeral injured.
A reliable source from the area who did not want his name in print said “the irate youths of Ekpenyong Atai 11, stormed the compound of the deceased, and disrupted the ceremony.
“The hoodlums went as far as destroying the coffin, canopies and other valuables and even demanded for the corpse for destruction. It was an action the leaders, elders and stakeholders from our area has frowned at describing it as the worst sacrilege.”
However in a petition to the State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio and copied to security agencies, the stakeholders who rose from an emergency meeting on the matter, condemned the incident and asked that the culprits be brought to book.
Sources from the area told Vanguard in Uyo that except government intervened in the matter, the hope of restoring peace and lasting solution to lingering crisis may be elusive.
