The communal clash between the people of Ukele in Yala local government area of Cross River and Izzi in Ebonyi State has reportedly claimed over 20 lives.


The Community Relations Officer to the Governor of Cross River, Mr Vincent Egbe alleged that the clash started on Friday when some Izzi residents invaded the venue of a peace meeting convened by the Divisional Police Officer for the Area and his Ebonyi State counterpart to find a peaceful resolution of the matter.

“We were already in the meeting venue waiting for the arrival of the DPOs from Yala and Izzi Local Government Areas when some youths invaded the venue of the meeting and shot into the crowd and wounded many people,” he alleged.


He said the Ukele youths mobilised and managed to repel the attackers and it was in the ensuing battle that the villages of Nkaleke and Nduabonyi were hit and many people also lost their lives.

“They are the aggressors and all our people have been trying to do is to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict yet they keep launching attacks on us,” he said.

A resident in the area, Patrick Ege, said that perennial land conflict started on Wednesday following a gun attack on an Ukele villager.


He alleged that the shooting occurred at Ijibolo village when the villagers were returning from a meeting on Wednesday evening, leaving many people with gun wounds.

“There was a serious attack on my village, Ijibolo when the Izzi people waylaid villagers who were returning from a meeting and many people sustained gunshot wounds,” he stated.

He said a woman was shot on Monday while she was in the farm and was in a critical state at the Lutheran Hospital Yahe where she was rushed to for medical attention.

Hon. Jarigbe Agom, the member representing Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency said there should be increased security presence in the area to forestall further loss of lives in the area.

When DAILY POST contacted the Commissioner of Police, Mr Mohammed Inuwa Hafiz on phone on Monday, he said “As far as I am concerned, I will only talk of what my men on ground told me.

“First of all, this problem started around Thursday when a woman from Cross River was shot on the leg by suspected Izzi people, that was what infuriated the Cross Riverians to go for reprisal.

“When they went for reprisal, we quickly moved in because the people from Ebonyi too were ready for showdown, but our prompt intervention that day saved the situation, otherwise by now, you could have been hearing of so many casualties.”

“I appeal to the deceased family and Cross Riverians to calm frayed nerves; the traditional rulers and other stakeholders in the area should not escalate the situation by making sure that they partake in the peace process. Proliferation of small arms and light weapons are not going to do anybody any good.

“Politicians and stakeholders should stop fanning the embers of enmity within Ebonyi and people of Cross River State; they have been living for years, so they should explore way of resolving conflict rather than bringing more problems,” he stated.

http://dailypost.ng/2018/06/26/20-feared-dead-cross-river-ebonyi-communities-clash/amp/

As long as the perpetrators are not presumed to be herdsmen, then it won't make news. That is the kind of hypocritical country we now live in.

RIP to the dead! I hope mischievous people will not link Fulani herdsmen to their death.

Stop making yourself tools for politicians

We should be able to know that the problem to divisions and conflicts isn't secession but the commitment of everyone to nation building ..

Now, this is not an Igbo-Hausa or Yoruba-Igbo riot.... Just the same way we have conflicts between Yoruba groups...

If we can address the tribal mindset in our upcoming generations through education, we will solve ALMOST ALL of our challenges as a nation.

Killing everyday buhari and governors God is watching all of you...

Amona tete mabo Amona tete mabo.Aiye ndaru oo.ese ngori ese...... Killing/ blood up and down.Xtian dey kill Xtian,bro dey kill bro.

Why should i be involve into political thuggery? All youths say NO to political slavery , be independent of yourself and make good for urself and upcoming generations....

that Nigeria loss really pain but I know their plan was to get rid of blacks..and back home our leaders are something else

No where is safe in this country again, so the Ipob people sef fit dey kill each other.

Why isn't CAN condemning or talking abt genocide? Is it because d media hasn't been able to label ds as herdsmen? Whenever Fulani is mentioned, they are quick to call it islamisation . Bush Fulani, that hardly practice any religion, only surviving in d wild with animals.
Many fulanis are even xtians, or outrightly without any religious leanings, but yet when their trouble is sort and they revenge, CAN and many low- minded ppl will mischievously start shouting Islamic agenda. Allah ya kara tsine muku

I regret being born in this country

These 2000's generation kids want to destroy our culture as Black People.
One of them just ate Akara and he is washing his hands with soap and water instead of rubbing his
hand on his head. Can you imagine that?

Nigeria has gone to the dogs.

my God, blood everywhere Buhari stepped his bloody legs.
Oh Lord don't allow Buhari to step his terrorist bloody legs in SE.

Some Igbo people are land grabbers by nature, don't worry my people will deal squarely with you. Landlocked Biafra is in trouble

Proud Ogoja

peacengine:
Igbo people are useless by nature, don't worry my people will deal squarely with you. Landlocked Biafra is in trouble

Proud Cross Riverian

look at this bloody sai babarist.... No go look after your cows... Stay there and be deceiving yourself

Quality20:
Why isn't CAN condemning or talking abt genocide? Is it because d media hasn't been able to label ds as herdsmen?

Shut Up if you can't read

It's not as if Nigeria is fighting a war like in the case of Syria, but yet, people die in large numbers everyday. I now understand why some people want Nigeria to be split. Honestly, i'm ashamed to say this but Nigeria shouldn't exist.

Buhari has cheapen human lives.

God where are you, help us

Philistine:
RIP to the dead! I hope mischievous people will not link Fulani herdsmen to their death.

Your priority is the image of the Fulani herdsmen
Even on a thread like this...

God help us

Mad people

In this century they are fighting communal war.

Bunch of retarrds.

What a country of insecurity

IGBO AMAKA