Communal Clashes Claim Eight In Ebonyi, C’River

Eight people have been
reportedly killed in renewed clashes between communities in Cross River and Ebonyi States.
A community leader said that some women from Ochienyim in Ebonyi State were attacked by unknown persons suspected to be from Adadama in Cross River State.
A source from Abi blamed their Ebonyi neighbours for killing five members of Adadama community.
The Tide reports that the conflict occurred between Ochienyim community in Amagu, Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State and Adadama community in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State.
According  to residents, five of those allegedly killed were from Adadama community, while three others were from Amagu village. Several people were also said to have been injured in the violent clashes.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, Amagu Ikwo community leader said that some women from Ochienyim went to harvest cassava in their farms when they were attacked by unknown persons suspected to be from Adadama.
The source said that the attackers tried to abduct some of the women but were resisted by the youth who accompanied  them.
“On getting back to the village, the women and youths were still narrating their ordeal when we heard gunshots and everyone started running to safety.
“It was in the process of trying to escape that three of our promising citizens were shot dead and several others injured right in our village by the blood thirsty Adadama youth. We are peace loving people,” he  said.
Meanwhile, a source from Abi, who also pleaded not to be named, blamed their Ebonyi neighbours for killing five members of Adadama community and injuring three others.
According to him, trouble started when some community women went to harvest cassava on a land bordering Amagu village.
“The women were chased from their farms by Amagu youth. When some of our women fled home to report what happened, our youth went on rescue mission, a fight broke out leading to the death of four of our youth”, he said.
When contacted, Jude Ngaji, the state security adviser to the Cross River state governor, said calm had returned to the warring communities.