Fifteen lives and properties worth millions of naira is reportedly lost in a renewed inter communal clash between the people of Ikot Offiong in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State and their Itu neighbours in Akwa Ibom State.
The perennial clashes between the two communities, which reoccurred on Tuesday and lingered till Wednesday morning left many houses and other properties destroyed with over 5,000 people rendered homeless.
An indigene of the area, Kelvin Bassey Okon told Grassroot Reporters that Oku-Iboku people launched an attack on Ikot Offiong, Ikoneto, Inua Akpa, Uba Mbat, Isonginyang, Akwa Efe, all in Odukpani LGA of Cross River State. He said the attackers succeeded in burning down Etehentem, Mkpanuruk, Mbiabo Edere, Afia Ekpe, Ikot Otu, Ikot Efa, Obomitiat, Ediong, Idim Ndom.
He said: “Oku Iboku people trooped into Ikoneto, Inua Akpa, Uba Mbat, Isonginyang, Akwa Efe, all in Odukpani LGA of Cross River State. They took us unawares because we had already agreed to a peaceful resolution of the dispute in order for the National Boundary Commission to demarcate the boundaries only for them to attack us”.
He continued “since NBC intervened in the matter, we dropped our weapons and were waiting for the state and federal government to help us and put a stop to the crisis, yet they haven’t done anything to assist us. We are in a difficult situation especially during this lockdown period”.
Efforts made by our correspondent to reach the Cross River State Police Public Relation Officer, DSP Irene Ugbo proved abortive as calls to her phone rang out.
He said: “Oku Iboku people trooped into Ikoneto, Inua Akpa, Uba Mbat, Isonginyang, Akwa Efe, all in Odukpani LGA of Cross River State. They took us unawares because we had already agreed to a peaceful resolution of the dispute in order for the National Boundary Commission to demarcate the boundaries only for them to attack us”.
He continued “since NBC intervened in the matter, we dropped our weapons and were waiting for the state and federal government to help us and put a stop to the crisis, yet they haven’t done anything to assist us. We are in a difficult situation especially during this lockdown period”.
Efforts made by our correspondent to reach the Cross River State Police Public Relation Officer, DSP Irene Ugbo proved abortive as calls to her phone rang out.
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