Renewed Communal Clash Claims Two Lives In C’ River

Two persons have been murdered following a renewed communal clash between the people of Oku Iboku in Itu local government area of Akwa Ibom State and Mbiabo in Odukpani local government area of Cross River State.
A class teacher and a young man were said to have been killed in the renewed clash. Our correspondent gathered that several other persons were injured as many have been rendered homeless.
An eyewitness who gave her name as Atim Umo said she lost her aunt, who was a classroom teacher. “The Oku Iboku people crossed the waters to our community and killed my auntie, a primary school teacher in Mbiabo. Our house was razed down and my brother happened to escape from their wrath with severe injuries.
“This is the second time my family is gruesomely affected in this unending war between the two local government areas. The Cross River State government must stand up to challenge the neighbouring state to bring lasting peace in our community,” she said.
Also speaking, a man who declined to give his name said that many have been killed from the attack by the Oku Iboku people. He alleged that the perpetrating community is being supported by politicians in Akwa Ibom State.
“I am so much worried for what is happening right now in my village here in Odukpani Local Government, Mbiabo Clan along Calabar Itu Bridge – we are dying there like fowls every day because of the communal clash between Odukpani and Itu local government in Akwa Ibom… Oku Iboku village yesterday came to our village (Mbiabo) and destroyed houses and killed people like cows.”
“The villages in question are Oku Iboku vs Mbiabo and Otong Ediong and Idim Ndom and Ekpene Eki. Cross River State Government only knows us during elections period and voting…that’s the village I personally delivered our Governor Ben Ayade and our Senator Gershom Bassey.
“Mbiabo Clan is where Gershom Bassey hails from, in Etehentem Polling Unit to be précised. The crisis between these communities can be traced back to ages as the Odukpani people claimed the Itu people usually cross the river, which is the perceived boundary to come and fight them,” he said