Tension between Finima indigenes and Adoni fishermen settling in the area seems to be escalating as one was reportedly killed while 21 others have been arrested.
TPCN spoke to a resident of the area who does not want her name to be mentioned due to the sensitivity of the matter.
She said that on Thursday, last week, a boy from Finima was beaten until he passed out when he went crab hunting at night by Andoni people occupying a fishing settlement close to Finima, reportedly as payback for the abduction of an Andoni youth by a group of youths of Finima.
TPCN gathered that people of Finima were angry, saying that strangers occupying their land can’t be a threat to them.
Bonny is the primary host of NLNG. The NLNG plant is located in Finima. On Saturday, Finima youths set up a roadblock preventing people from exiting or entering the Fishing settlement, another source close to the matter said.
The source said that on Sunday, NLNG staff who attended churches had to park at the entrance of the road leading to the fishing settlement. There are many churches on the road to the fishing port.
Army officers were called to intervene. The commandant arrived first, and without a word cut the barricade tape. The commander who was wearing mufti, however received a slap from one of the angry youths.
Our source said that other officers arrived and flogged those at the scene. Men, women and youths of Finima were enraged but the officers settled with Finima people.
The army team with the youth, headed to the fishing settlement. There they opened fire because they were allegedly attacked by Andoni youths , killed one and arrested 21 of them. The rest ran away while hurling threats at the soldiers. They swore to attack and burn Finima.
Our source said that there has been tension in Finima since then. The peaceful inhabitants of the fishing settlement mostly of Andoni origin have fled. Now, it appears like the conflict is beween the Andonis and the Ibanis of Bonny.
The recurring conflict between the Andonis and the Ibanis is disheartening the source said, saying that her family is scared.
“We are scared because our people are headstrong, courageous, fierce and uncivilised.
” In fact, Andoni men involved in violence call themselves “ebi ikpa obge”. literally, it means, those death befit.
“There is a thin line between courage and folly. The Andonis have settled and intermarried with the Ibanis for long. Beside, there are many non-indigenes on the Island of Bonny.
” Bonny is federal government territory. Why do Andoni youths think they can win this war. But then, they are “ebi ikpa ogbe”.
“Meetings have been held, it seems peace is returning. Still, it is a shame how the army officers handled the situation.
” Peace is not certain though. Today, we heard rumour that Andoni youths were approaching for war. We may have to relocate to the village. I don’t want to leave” she concluded.
