Cross River: 8 feared dead in communal clash

Barley a week after about 15 persons were reportedly
killed in a clash between Ediba and Usumutong communities
in Abi, eight persons are again feared dead while about 15
are reported to have suffered gunshotwounds in Obudu
local government of Cross River over the ownership for a
parcel of farm land.
For two years now, the Okworotong and Kutia communities
in Obudu have been at war over the ownership of a piece of
land housing residential buildings and a church allegedly
belonging to Kutia people.
Trouble was said to have started in 2011 when Okworotong
people came up and claimed that the Kutias encroached on
their land and demanded they vacate the land within a
specific period of time.
This development led to communal war between the
communities, leading to loss of lives and destruction of
property including public school.
To prevent further blood shed, the state government
intervened and took over the disputed land while ordering
the warring neighbours to steer clear of the area pending
when the matter will be resolved amicably.
However, investigations by Saturday Sun revealed that
three years after when it appeared there was no response
from government , the Kutia people went back to same land
and started rebuilding with the belief that all is over.
On discovering what was taking place, , it was learnt, their
Okworotong brothers sent emissaries to find out why they
were rebuilding without permission from the state
government, and this later resulted into a physical fight.
An eye-witness account told Saturday Sun that during the
clash on Tuesday, the Kutia people were beaten black and
blue with some of them sustaining various degrees of
injuries while five were said to have been killed.
The account said “in annoyance the Kutia people went home;
re-grouped and armed with sophisticated weapons
attacked their Okworotong brothers and killed three and
wounded many.”
As at the time of filling this report, the situation was said
to have degenerated into a full scale war with the warring
parties unleashing mayhem on one another.
Thousands of women and children are said to have been
evacuated to other communities for safety.
Reliable sources told our correspondent that due to the
escalation of the crisis, the local government chairman, Mr.
Emmanuel Ugbe, had summoned a meeting of stakeholders
including political office holders, traditional rulers, youth
leaders and women groups and business class with a view to
finding lasting solution to the dispute.
Speaking to newsmen on the crisis, the Director-General of
State Border Commission, Barr. Leo Aggrey, said he
received a text message from the Community Relations
Officer in the area, Chief Mathias Ake, informing him of
the clash.