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Seven persons have been reportedly killed in a renewed communal clash between Oku Iboku community in Itu local government Area of Akwa Ibom state and Ikot Offiong in Odukpani Local government area in Cross River state.
The dispute between the two neighbouring communities which has lasted for over a hundred years and has claimed hundreds of lives so far resurface Tuesday night.
The reoccurring skirmish is over the ownership of some fishing communities on the bounds of Calabar-Itu river. Those killed are mostly fishermen.

Chief Effiong Eneh, a local fish merchant lamented that the war “has defied all known traditional and political solutions even before the creation of Akwa Ibom state out of the old Cross River in 1987”.
Eneh said the incident, which he described as sad, happened late Tuesday night, explaining that “the deceased left for their fishing business at about 10:00am”.
Those killed, he added, “are all from Oku Iboku including three brothers from same parents”, adding that “three dead bodies have been recovered so far”, while mostly youths were still waiting for the remains of the other four to float to the seashore.

Lamenting the incident, Bassey Offiong Willams, a native of the neighbouring Ayadehe community, told reporters that “because of the crises which have claimed several lives, people were warned not to go deep into the sea for fishing”.

He blamed Soldiers standing guard around the troubles river for the problem, alleging “the soldiers always allowed the militants from Ikot Offiong to penetrate into our territory with their flying boats but would not allow Oku Iboku fishermen to do same”.
Mr. Ekikere Umoh, Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Deputy Governor, Obong Moses Ekpo, whose office oversees boundary issues involving states, said he was yet to be fully briefed on the incident.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Odiko Macdon, a Police Superintendent, said “we have already commenced preliminary investigation into the incident”.
He suggested what he called “pro-active measures by politicians and security agencies to bring a lasting peace to the crises”.
“I think politicians should come up with a political solution to the problem”, he said.

File

The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Command in Cross River says it has destroyed 10 hectares of Cannabis Sativa (Indian hemp) farms in the state.
The Commander of the agency in the state, Mrs Anthonia Edeh, made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Calabar.

Edeh said that the destroyed farms were located at Esuk Odot community in Odupkani Local Government Area.
She also disclosed that four suspects were arrested in the farm while they were harvesting the illicit weeds.
“The four suspects are Mr Emmanuel Usen, 40; Mrs Effiom Emmanuel, 37; Mr Abraham Emmanuel, 18 and Okon Effiong, 27.

“Processed hemp totalling 194.8kg, 14.5kg of cannabis seeds and 14.5kg of fresh cannabis weed, with grand total of 223.8kgs were seized from the suspects, while 10 hectares of hemp cultivation were destroyed, ‘’ Eneh said.
She commended operatives of Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) for their support and cooperation in the successful operation.
“I must commend men of the NSCDC for this operation code-named `Fob Ikon-Ekpo’.
“This kind of synergy, if sustained, will go a long way in curbing all forms of criminality, especially illicit drug trafficking and abuse in Cross River, ‘’ she said.

The commander decried the continued activities of hemp cultivators in the state in spite of regular sensitisation and awareness campaigns by NDLEA.
She, however, said the agency was ready and will do everything within its powers to ensure that Cross River was not a safe haven for unscrupulous illicit hemp farmers.
Edeh appealed to community heads, chiefs and youth leaders to remain vigilant and always be mindful of who they leased their lands to, warning that “ignorance will not be an excuse when indicted’’.
According to her, anyone found culpable will be prosecuted as accomplice regardless of how highly placed.
She said that the suspects would be charged to court after investigation.

By Obio Monday

Niger Delta Minister, Usani Usani

58 women and youth of the Bakassi and Odukpani local government areas of Cross River state have been trained in fishery and poultry in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.
The Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs said it is in pursuant of federal government policy on youth employment and income generation to forestall restiveness and create jobs in the Niger Delta Region.

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani, represented at the ceremony by director of economic empowerment, Mr Ibrahim Akanya said the programme was put together to support the youths and women who are in need of empowerment.
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In a statement by deputy director press, Stephen T. Kilebi, the minister charged the trainees on utilising the empowerment package wisely.
He urged them to put the skills acquired to good use by establishing businesses and become employers of labour.
He said some trainees who in the past were serious and developed themselves are now consultants and are engaged as resource persons in some of the ministry’s empowerment programmes.

One of the participants, Elder Edet Okon who commended the ministry for the initiative appealed that the empowerment programme should continue. He said the starter pack be reviewed upward in subsequent training programmes.

By Obio Monday
28/04/19

Scene of the accident

Twenty one persons escaped death by the whiskers in an auto crash involving a passenger bus belonging to a popular transport company and a sport utility vehicle (SUV) . The incident happened few meters away from Oduyama Market, along Odukpani-Itu road in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State.

An occupant of the bus, Miss Emmanuella Isoni, who celebrated her birthday yesterday, told our correspondent that the bus was heading to Port Harcourt from Calabar. She further narrated how the incident happened " After we finished saying our prayers in the bus and a short preaching,  and we said Amen to the prayers,  not up up to 3 minutes later, a sport utility vehicle rammed into our bus  just at a little bend. Our bus tumbled several times. I'm happy nobody died. ".

She said all the passengers including herself sustained injuries and are being treated at an undisclosed hospital. She thanked God for sparing her life and that of other passengers.

See photos from the scene of the accident:

The people of Ukwa Eburutu in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State has concluded plans for its annual festival of victory codenamed 'Ukwa Day'. The event is scheduled to begin on the 7th of April with a football competition between the different clans in Ukwa, followed by the main event on the 12th of April, 2019. 
The Chairman of the Central Planning Committee, Mr. Samuel Nkwo, disclosed this to our correspondent in Calabar.

Ukwa Day as it is commonly called is a day set aside by the people to commemorate the victory of the community in several communal wars against their neighbouring communities, honour their departed heroes and also showcase the rich cultural heritage of the people.
Activities lined up for the epoch making event include solemn assembly, football competition, walk against violence, carnival and cultural display and gala night/talent hunt.

The town is already in celebratory mode when our correspondent visited. Many sons and daughters of the community both at home and in diaspora are making plans to attend the event. Speaking to our correspondent, an indigene of the community Mr. Alex Imoh, who reside in Calabar described the mood of the people as 'ecstatic'. 'Many people within and outside Calabar are trooping in numbers to attend the event' he said.  Another  indigene of the community, also a resident of Calabar, Miss Ana Owot said the festival is not just the celebration of victory but an event in which the rich cultural heritage of Ukwa Eburutu people and the Efiks are displayed. It attracts people from far and wide. I wish to call on the state government to include Ukwa Day in its calendar and sponsor subsequent editions', she said.
Ukwa Eburutu is one of the 12 ancestral clans in Efik Eburutu.

File

 Two persons were confirmed killed during a renewed communal clash between the people of Oku Iboku in the Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State and Mbiabo in the Odukpani Local Government area of Cross River State .

The Police Public Relations Officer in Cross River State , Irene Ugbo, who confirmed this to newsmen in Calabar , said security personnel had been deployed in the areas .
“ Peace has been restored in the war - torn areas . Our men are there to protect lives and property . We warned the perpetrators to think twice as anybody caught would be dealt with , ” she said .

One of those killed was a class teacher , while the other victim was a young man .
It was gathered that several people were injured while many had been rendered homeless .

An eyewitness , who gave her name as Atim Umo, said she lost her aunt , who was the class teacher .
Umo stated , “ The Oku Iboku people crossed the river to our community and killed my aunty , a primary school teacher in Mbiabo . Our house was razed down and my brother escaped with severe injuries. ”