Abi People Call For Federal Help as War Rages Between Cross River and Ebonyi Communities

by crossriverwatch admin

The people of Adadama in Abi Local Government of Cross River are crying out for federal intervention in the escalating communal war ongoing between their community and neighbouring Ama-agwu Community in Ebonyi State.

Crossriverwatch gathered that over fifteen people, mostly women and children, have been feared dead and properties worth millions have been burnt as at this morning, in the raging battle between the two communities over lingering boundary disputes. Hundreds have also been rendered homeless.

Speaking to crossriverwatch on the telephone, Chief of Staff to Governor Imoke, Mr. Alex Egbuna said: “We have a problem in our hand now. It is the ongoing war between our people in Adadama and a neighbouring community in Ebonyi State. At the moment we are trying hard to mobilize the police to the scene of the crises to see how we can cool down the situation. We are also calling on the federal government to please intervene very quickly in this matter and see how order can be restored immediately because we are losing many lives already and properties are being burnt”.

The outbreak of hostilities between the two neighbouring communities started on Sunday night and has raged through the week with the police not being able to bring the situation under control.

When crossriverwatch visited the area on Tuesday afternoon, the lifeless bodies of three men were seen lying at Adadama along the Ugep – Abomege Road which leads to Ebonyi State.

Another attempt to visit the scene was unsuccessful as our reporter was warned not to go further than the Abomege Junction by police men.

But a source from the war front told crossriverwatch that “The kind of weapons paraded by the villagers and the mobile police men that the Ebonyi State government has deployed is very clear that the government of Ebonyi state is involved in this massacre. A lot of people have died. I cannot say exactly how many dead bodies I saw, but certainly over fifteen bodies. The unfortunate thing is that our own governor is not around to give support to our people and incidentally, this local government is where the governor comes from”.

While the state governor, Senator Liyel Imoke is still recuperating in an American hospital, the acting governor Mr. Efiok Cobham is said to be helpless about the situation.

Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Cross River State Police Command, DSP John Umoh had told crossriverwatch that a team of anti mobile policemen had been dispatched to the warring area and from the reports he was receiving normalcy has been restored.