*Police confirm the incident

By Chioma Onuegbu, Uyo

A youth of Mkpat Enin Local government area of Akwa Ibom State identified as Samuel Monday Toby has been killed during a clash between the dissolved Market revenue group and a new group.

Newsmen gathered on Tuesday that trouble started when the Transition committee chairman identified as Lady Mercy Bassey
dissolved the former Revenue Committee in the area without consulting the market host communities.

An eyewitness who identified himself as Utibe odiong said the victim of the clash Monday Toby was killed at Ikot Akpabong market day as he was waylaid and beaten up till he died on the spot.

The said the incident which occurred last Wednesday caused the traders in the market to scamper for safety.

He also disclosed that the Personal Assistant to the governor, who is also one of the former revenue officials identified as Mr Akanimo Bob has also fled his residence since after the clash for fear of the unknown.

He said the governor’s Aide whose house is now monitored by armed policemen as he evaded arrest and escaped to an unknown destination.

” Since the incident, the Transition Chairman Mrs Mercy Bassey ordered the police to cordone off all the local markets during the market days to prevent further attacks ” , the eyewitness asserted.

Meanwhile, Akanimo Bob, an indigene of Ukam in Mkpat Enin, Ikpa Ibom ward 2, in an
an open letter to governor Umo Eno, called for the governor’s intervention over the crisis.

He stated in part: “Your Excellency, permit me to mention, as your PA that beyond the revenue challenge, Lady Mercy Bassey is victimizing Ukam and Ikpa Ibom ward 2, for political reasons.

“After an avoidable loss of life of a young man by name Samuel Monday Toby in Ikot Akpaobong, the arrest and detention of seven youths of Mkpat Enin in state CID, and the invasion of Ukam market last week Wednesday with ten truck loads of policemen, causing many casualties, It has become very pertinent for me to write this Save our Soul letter to you.

When contacted the Police Public Relations Officers, Mr Odiko MacDon confirmed the incident even as he noted that Police have restored normalcy in the area.

His words: “The command received a report about a crisis between the Transition Committee Chairperson in Mkpat Enin and the market revenue groups. I think the new government tried to put a geniune body while the other people (former revenue group) perhaps wants to continue.

“I think that generated problem. When we got the report Police went to restore normalcy to the area. What the Police did was to work with all of them and restore normalcy. It is unfortunate that one of the parties went and now murdered some other person. That led the Police to arresting some persons.

“That matter has been transferred to the State CID. A very discreet investigation is ongoing.. The Commissioner of Police ordered that the matter be investigated, and the outcome of the investigation will made Public.

“If they have any political issue let them sit down and restore it politically. We would not allow any breakdown of Law and order in any part of the state. So we are on it.