In Ikot Obio Akai community in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, daily life used to be simple and predictable. Farmers worked their land, families lived in relative peace, and the environment remained undisturbed. Today, that calm is gradually giving way to anxiety as oil and gas activities expand into the area.
The change became more evident after the March 18 shooting incident near a pipeline project handled by Sterling Global. The incident sent residents running for safety and has since left the community on edge, raising fresh concerns about security and the long-term impact of extractive activities.
“We suddenly heard heavy gunshots, numerous and intense. It was a frightening experience that forced everyone to run for their lives,” said the Village Head, Chief Nse Effiong Ukpe. For many residents, the incident has come to symbolise a deeper fear—that development may bring disruption rather than progress.
Chief Nse Effiong Ukpe, Village Head of Ikot Obio Akai, traced the root of the crisis to a longstanding land dispute, insisting that the area hosting the pipeline rightfully belongs to his community. He maintained that the matter had been conclusively settled through traditional institutions long before the recent tension.
According to him, the land in question had been adjudicated on three different occasions by successive councils of traditional rulers in Mkpat Enin, with each ruling affirming Ikot Obio Akai’s ownership. He stressed that these decisions were widely known and accepted within the local traditional framework.
“We have gone through this issue several times, and judgments have consistently been in our favour,” Chief Ukpe stated, adding that the community possesses documentary evidence to support its claim. He noted that these documents have already been submitted to security agencies for verification.
He expressed concern that despite these rulings, certain individuals and groups have continued to lay claim to the land, allegedly attempting to demand compensation from the company. He described such actions as provocative, attributing the renewed tension to greed and attempts to reopen an issue that had long been laid to rest.
Chief Ukpe further called on security agencies to arrest and prosecute those behind the actions, warning that failure to act decisively could embolden troublemakers and escalate the situation. He, however, reiterated that Ikot Obio Akai remains law-abiding and will continue to pursue justice through legitimate channels.
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Dr. Ebeneza George Ukpe, Family Head of the Ukpe Royal Family, said the aftermath has affected everyday life. “There is fear everywhere. Our people can no longer go to farm or carry out their normal daily activities without anxiety,” he said. In a community where farming is the backbone of survival, such disruption has serious consequences.
Beyond the recent tension, the pipeline project, which runs from Esa Ekpo to Ikot Abia, initially raised hopes of employment and development. Some locals were engaged at the early stages, but residents say those opportunities were short-lived and failed to translate into lasting benefits.
Across Ikot Obio Akai and neighbouring communities, complaints of neglect and exclusion are growing. Residents allege that despite earlier drilling in areas such as Ikot Akpaekop, host communities receive little or no benefit. “
An indigene of Ikot Akpa Ekop, Emem Mbat, who spoke with our correspondent, lamented what he described as reckless activities that have led to the destruction of the community’s stream—their only source of drinking water.
“They channeled both oil residue and human waste across the road into the stream. You should understand the potency of the chemicals involved in oil exploration. The continuous discharge of such waste into the stream has not only made the water unsafe for use but also caused severe erosion, making it impossible for us to access it. Some of us who relied on sand dredging from the stream for our livelihood can no longer get to the area,” he said.
The people also pointed to what they described as unequal treatment compared to other areas. “In Esit Eket, they paid about N150 million before starting work. Why is our case different?” another community member asked,
Employment remains a major concern. Community leaders insist that none of their qualified youths have been meaningfully engaged. “At least they would have employed two skilled workers for permanent jobs,” a resident noted, describing the situation as unfair.
The absence of a clear and inclusive agreement has further deepened mistrust. Leaders argue that any Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)signed between the company and its host community should involve all affected stakeholders, particularly those who will bear the burden of environmental degradation. “There was no proper consultation, no content plan explaining how the project will affect us,” Dr Ukpe said.
Community Liaison Officers (CLOs), expected to manage relations between the company and the people, have also expressed dissatisfaction. One CLO described the role as demanding but unrewarding. “You only suffer. When there is a problem, you are called, no sleep for you, and when you go to the site, you won’t be paid,” he said.
However, the company has pushed back against some of these claims. When contacted, the media consultant to Akwa Ibom Sumedha Energy Limited—a joint venture involving Sterling Global and NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL)—Mr. Aniekeme Finbarr acknowledged the shooting incident but said it stemmed from a communal land dispute.
“There was an incident, and our workers were also affected. It was a communal clash linked to a land dispute, but modalities have been put in place, both locally and with security agencies, to ensure that everyone is safe,” he said.
On allegations of exploitation of Community Liaison Officers, Finbarr explained that CLOs are compensated through a commission-based structure. “They earn a percentage from the salaries of workers. The more workers from their communities, the more they earn. They are the official interface, and payment comes through that percentage,” he stated.
Addressing environmental concerns, particularly over planned gas flaring in nearby Esa Ekpo, Finbarr said the process would be temporary and necessary to open a new well. He assured that the company has complied with all regulatory requirements. “We have followed due process and obtained all necessary approvals for the exploration,” he said.
He further assured that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives are being extended beyond immediate host communities. “Our CSR programmes and projects are carried out on a catchment basis because we are aware that the effects of our operations are not restricted to immediate communities,” he added.
Despite these assurances, many residents remain sceptical. Their concerns are shaped by experiences from other parts of Akwa Ibom State, particularly Ibeno Local Government Area, where years of oil exploration have left communities battling environmental degradation and limited development.
For residents of Ikot Obio Akai, Ibeno represents a warning. “We have seen what happened in Ibeno. After many years of oil exploration, what do they have to show for it? We don’t want that to be our story,” one resident said.
Environmental risks remain central to their fears. Oil drilling and gas flaring can affect air quality, soil fertility, and water sources—critical resources for agrarian communities. “When you drill oil and sell it, what about the damages in the community?” another resident asked.
Security concerns continue to linger as well. The Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, CP Muhammad Azare, confirmed that investigations into the shooting are ongoing and that evidence has been recovered. He also confirmed that the shooting was connected to previous dispute over the piece of land hosting the pipeline.
While admitting that no arrest has so far been made in connection with the March 18 shooting, CP Azare however called on the actual host community (Ikot Obio Akai) to report any threat or further harassment to the appropriate agencies to aid ongoing
