Mkpanak community in Ibeno Local Council, hosts of the Ilaje fishing community in Akwa Ibom has given their displaced tenants strident conditions for their reintegration back to the community.
This is coming two months after crisis rocked the fishing community with several homes, mostly belonging to the Ilajes razed down and several persons reported dead.
It would be recalled that the communal clash which broke out between the two on Tuesday April 19,2022 led to the displacement of over 10,000 Ilaje residents most of whom are still hanging around church premises and filling stations in Eket local government area.
The terms and conditions issued by the host community for the reintegration of the Ilaje people contained in a documents and handed over to the representatives of Ilaje people in the last meeting with the Deputy Governor, Mr. Moses Ekpo, it was learnt was basically meant to “instill mutual respect between the two communities and prevent further disagreement and rancour”
The two page document also includes boat management and landing fees, fishing expedition and community responsibilities.
Some of the provisions of the new conditions include that, “no visitor, non Indigenes of Ibeno will buy directly from any fishing boat at the beach and anyone liable will pay a fine of 20,000 only. All catches including gray fish and other fishes up to five basins shall be sold at the ratio of 2:3 to Mkpanak and Ilaje women.
“Catches from Tilapia draw nets will be bought by Ibeno LG women at the ratio aforementioned. Ibeno indigenes will have the first right of refusal of buying from any boats at any location. All gray fish and other fishes measured in basins or in whole will attract compulsory sale tax of N300 only payable to Ibeno women association with receipt” among others.”
However, not satisfied with all the terms and conditions, a representative of the Ilaje, Mr. James Ajele who spoke with journalists after the meeting said Ilaje people are prepared to abide by the conditions as stipulated in the documents but complained of some items which he said do not go down well with their collective interests.
He therefore appealed to state government and Ibeno local government to intervene while urging the Ibeno community to temper justice with mercy by totally reviewing the said sections.
Efforts to speak with the Paramount ruler, HRM Ovong Effiong Achianga was not successful as at the time of filing this report.
