By Jonathan Ugbal
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The Nko people of Yakurr Local Government Area in Cross River State have lamented the devastating impact of the raid on their community by troops of the Nigerian Army following renewed hostilities with neighboring Onyadama community of Obubra LGA.
The community told newsmen in Calabar on Wednesday that the Army raided their homes, which has led to the people fleeing for fear of being killed, raped, arrested or destruction of their properties.
“We disagree with the way the crisis is being managed by the Army. Their approach is unethical and unprofessional,” said Dr. Akpama Akpama, who read the position of the community in the company of former Niger Delta Affairs Minister, Pastor Usani Usani.
Reports suggest that soldiers were shot while some are missing, an allegation the community denied, saying, “we cannot and will never organize any form of conflict against anyone or group of persons. We won’t even contemplate any attack on the military.
“Beginning from Friday, June 24, 2022, to this moment. Carnage has been exercised in arson, rape and shooting at sight of persons. Beyond these, our women have been thoroughly brutalized in very dehumanizing forms,” adding that, “properties that cannot be quantified at the moment have been destroyed.”
They called on the troops to be stationed at the boundary and commended the State Government for seizing the land which is the subject of the crisis. However, they lamented that the students of the four secondary schools in Nko have been denied their right to education, with those sitting for the National Examination Council Senior Secondary Certificate Examination losing out as they can’t learn in such an environment.
The community commended those who have taken Nko people in and called on humanitarian authorities and bodies to come to their aid as the elderly, pregnant and sick people have been abandoned in their homes devoid of care, “because their caregivers have fled from the community for their safety” while hunger continues to ravage the community.
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