Two unidentified young men from Ukelle community in Yala local government area of Cross River State were reportedly killed on Thursday morning by people suspected to be from Igbeagu community in Izzi local government area of Ebonyi State.
This happening just a couple of days after the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazzau, visited both states to find lasting solutions problem between the two neigbouring communities.
A resident of Ukelle who called The Nation on phone yesterday alleged that the two ill-fated young men were riding on a motorcycle at Izzi-Mfuma village, when youths suspected to be from Igbeagu ambushed them and shot them at close range killing them instantly.
“This latest attack is unprovoked and we do know what to do anymore from stopping the Izzi people from killing us. Right now negotiations are on by all stakeholders, security agencies and even the government at the state and federal levels to resolve this problem, but it appears the people just love killing just for killing sake.
“About three Sundays ago, while the deputy governor of Cross River State and that of Ebonyi were in a meeting to resolve the problem they were still attacking us. In fact while the meeting was ongoing they invaded some of our communities and killed three young men. One of them was beheaded and we don’t know where the head is till today. One Vincent Ojobo was the unfortunate young man that was beheaded. He was killed at Ijobolo 2 Village. The other two were killed in Ipollo Village.
“As I speak with you Ukelle is a ghost town. The community has been deserted. Go to our villages like Ijibollo 1 and 2, Ogomogomo, Ogba, Ujama, Mfuma and Ipollo 1 and 2, they are like warzones. They have burnt down our houses. Our farmland and livestock have been destroyed. We can no longer go to our farms again for fear of our lives. The children are no longer going to school. In fact life has ground to a halt for us in this community.
“We are begging the Government to come in urgently to protect. We are only always forced to defend ourselves, because we are not aggressors. But the Ebonyi people from time to time for no reason attack and kill our people indiscriminately. For how long will this continue?” the source who did not want to be named said.
Cross River Acting Governor, Prof Ivara Esu, when he received Dambazzau in his office in Calabarexpressed frustration over the conflict, saying they were confused about how to go about the matter as all efforts to stem the problem has been futile.
He was upset that meeting with their Ebonyi counterparts with service chiefs, traditional rulers, assembly members, the Director General of the National Boundary Commission, among other stakeholders from both communities to resolve the issue, the killing have still continued.
He had said Cross River loves peace and in conflicts with neighbouring states, they are usually not the aggressors, but only try to defend themselves.
Esu said state is bordered by Akwa Ibom, Abia, Ebonyi and Benue States which at one time or the other are in conflict with communities in the state over land.
He begged the Federal Government and the NBC to do all that can be done to restore peace to the people of the state. - The Nation
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