By Jonathan Ugbal
The Obubra campus of the Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH) which houses the faculty of Agriculture was closed for 72 hours following a resurgence in the Nko and Mkpani communal clash.
Students were directed to vacate the school premises on Monday, June 6, 2016 till further notice with Examinations across the four campuses of the varsity postponed.
CrossRiverWatch gathered that the directive became imminent when rumours filled the air that an indigene of Obubra had being identified among the dead resulting from the Nko and Mkpani crisis in Yakurr local government area, which is largely viewed as an off spill of the Inyima and Onyadama crisis, neighbouring and boundary communities in Obubra and Yakurr local government areas.
The Varsity’s management had also decided to postpone the examinations billed to begin today, a decision which was later reviewed with other campuses directed to continue until normalcy returns for the students in Obubra to get back and write their first semester examinations in the 2015/2016 academic session.
However, information reaching CrossRiverWatch suggests that the students have been called back to continue with their examinations as it is claimed normalcy has since returned with assurances that the institution is safe.
Also, Cross River governor, Senator Ben Ayade Tuesday, in Calabar inaugurated a committee to inquire and propose lasting solutions to the unending communal clashes in the state numbering over ten as well as those involving communities in the state and communities in neighbouring states.
The committee headed by the immediate past deputy governor, Efiok Cobham, is expected to review documents and interface with the locals to stop what has become a blemish in the perceived peaceful and hospitable nature of the state.