By Solomon OKPO.
Youths in Ete, a coastal oil-producing community in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, have set fire to five military vehicles in retaliation for the fatal shooting of a young activist by a soldier.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, stemmed from widespread grievances over alleged military harassment and extortion. According to eyewitnesses, soldiers attached to Sterling Global, an oil firm, were pursuing a diesel-laden truck in what locals believed to be an extortion attempt. This led to a confrontation between the youths and one of the soldiers, who, in a bid to escape, opened fire on a protester, killing him instantly.
The shooting triggered outrage, with angry youths blocking the Ete section of the East-West Road for hours, stranding travelers moving between Akwa Ibom and Rivers states.
“There’s a crisis in Ete. A soldier on duty at Sterling Global shot one of our youths dead today. This comes just a week after another killing by the military. The community is saying enough is enough,” said a resident, Effiong Ekwere.
In response to the incident, enraged youths torched five military vehicles, including a bus and a Hilux van, demanding an end to military excesses in the area.
Military sources from the 2 Brigade Headquarters in Uyo confirmed the unrest but assured that the situation was under control. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Timfon John, also verified the incident, stating that the involved soldier had been hospitalized while the victim’s body was deposited in the morgue as investigations continued.
