Inter Communal War Claim Seven Lives in Cross River

by crossriverwatch admin

Inter communal strife between the people of Adadama and Igbo Amabana in Abi local government area in the central part of Cross River State has claimed about seven lives following two days of battle with guns and machetes.

The outbreak of hostilities between the two neighbouring communities according to sources started on Sunday night and raged through Monday as the two communities sought to show supremacy over one another following a long standing dispute over the ownership of a parcel of farm land which borders the two communities.

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.

“Apart from these ones you are seeing along the road there are about four inside the villages which I have seen” a mobile policeman on duty told our reporter.

The conflict which is in Senator Liyel Imoke, the Cross River state governor’s home local government area is a common feature of frosty relationships between neighbouring communities during this time of the year when farming commences.

Meanwhile the villages of Adadama and Igbo Amabana, Igbo Ekureku and Afagara have become ghost towns as the villages have all fled for fear of arrest as anti riot policemen have descended on the warring communities to effect a wave of arrest.

“Many of them have fled to Ugep and some to Abomege in Ebonyi State. Anyone seen around here would be taken to Calabar to explain why this senseless violence broke out even as the Governor is from this local government area, they have no respect for him”.

The DPO of the police division in the community was said to be on leave, the Abi Local Council Chairman was also said to be holidaying in USA while the state governor is also recuperating in a US hospital.

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