The people of Offot Usung Ifiayong in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The community hosts the University of Uyo (UNIUYO) permanent site located along Nwaniba.
On Monday, a petition by Offot Usung Ifiayong Unity Assembly alleged unprovoked attacks by the management.
Co-signed by Maurice Edet, ex-Chairman, Uyo LGA and Tony Asikpo, ex-Speaker, Uyo Legislative Assembly, they appealed to Buhari and NUC Executive Secretary, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, to call UNIUYO authorities to order.
They are demanding an end to “series of harassment, intimidation, arrests, invasion and destruction of property in our community and on the disputed land while the matter is pending in court”.
The group revealed that on the night of Sunday, May 24, 2020, gunshots “that continued for over an hour woke the people. The people were frightened and remained indoors fearing there was an armed robbery attack in the area”.
It said by morning, people were shocked to see that “over 10 houses in the community had been demolished by agents of the University aided by armed soldiers, despite the subsisting lockdown curfew in the state”.
The petition accused UNIUYO of “ignoring many peace moves initiated by the State Government to find a lasting solution to the protracted land dispute between the community (ten Offot Ukwa villages) that donated their land to the authority of the institution”.
The people recalled that on February 15, 2015, UNIUYO management led by Prof. Enefiok Essien allegedly authorized the Chief Security Officer to storm the community.
“On that fateful day, 8 buildings at various stages of completion were reduced to rubbles. Youths of our community vis entire youths of Offot Ukwa were seriously agitated but were restrained from seeking vengeance”.
The community further alleged that when the matter was taken to court in Suit No. HU/337/2015, the school “got in touch with the Commissioner of Police, who in turn signalled the Police prosecutor already in court with the accused persons to withdraw”.
They regretted that the Police promised to hold further dialogue with parties on the matter, but that was the end of it all.
Offot Usung Ifiayong community begged the federal government to prevail on UNIUYO to return to the negotiating table established by the Akwa Ibom government for delineation of boundaries “so as to put an end to every form of hostility while installing lasting peace for the needed development of our community”.
They also want the tertiary institution to make retribution by paying adequate compensation to all the victims whose property at various stages of completion were destroyed on February 15, 2015, and May 24, 2020.
When contacted, Blossom Okorie, UNIUYO Head of Public Relations, told our correspondent to call again.
Upon the follow-up call for her reaction, she promised to revert.
