Nine Children Remain Missing In Akwa Ibom After Christmas Eve Violent Attack

 

Community youths and parents disclosed the troubling development to journalists, expressing fears that the missing children may have been killed. 

Nine children remain missing in Ndito Eka Iba village, Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, following a violent attack on Christmas Eve 2024. 

The attack, allegedly carried out by neighbouring Esit-Eket and Eket Local Government Areas, stemmed from a long-standing boundary dispute.

Community youths and parents disclosed the troubling development to journalists, expressing fears that the missing children may have been killed. 

The Youth President of the community, Mr. Ukot Robert, lamented the prolonged absence of the children and the continued hostilities from their neighbours.

“Some parents have been looking for their children after the incident, but to no avail. The children got missing during the attack in Ndito Eka Iba on the eve of Christmas,” Robert stated. 

“For people to be missing since December 2024 till now means they may have been killed. The community has set up a search party to continue looking for them, while the incident has been reported to the police for investigation.”

Robert further revealed that residents of Ndito Eka Iba have continued to face attacks along the coastal axis of the community. 

According to him, the youths recently apprehended and handed over five individuals to the police who were caught destroying property in the village.

He identified the missing children as Emmanuel Udoeka (11), Happiness John (8), Ikotiye Okon (6), Thompson John (3), Friday Moses (4), John Mfon (9), Gabriel Akpan (8), Susana Peter (7), and Ubong Benselem (14).

The crisis, he said, was exacerbated by the remapping controversy initiated during the previous state administration.