Ebonyi, Cross River Boundary Clash Claims 2 more Lives, Dozens Injured too

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria, News From The State Monday, May 23rd, 2016

By IGNATIUS OKPARA, Abakaliki

BALTIMORE, MD (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The lingering boundary disputes between the people of Ochenyim Amagu, community in Ikwo council Area of Ebonyi State, and Adadama village in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State, weekend claimed two more lives.

Our Correspondent gathered that the renewed bloody communal clash, also left dozens of persons from both communities seriously injured.

The victims, whose names were given as Okechukwu John Ogwa and Mrs. Nweke Nwankwo, are said to be from Ochenyim village in Ebonyi state.

Apart from the injured villagers, AFRICAN EXAMINER learnt that some policemen on duty in the disputed land were reportedly attacked by the warring communities.

Chief Peter Azuegu,the village head from the affected Ebonyi community, disclosed that the late Mrs. Nwankwo was harvesting cassava in a farm near the disputed boundary when she was attacked and killed by hoodlums from Cross River state.

Ebonyi state police public Relations officer PPRO, George Okafor confirmed the deadly incident.

According to him, “The matter was reported to the police that Nweke Nwankwo, left her home at 9 a.m to harvest cassava and did not come back and that nobody could trace her whereabouts.”

He added that immediately the matter was reported to the police, it raised a team to support other mobile and conventional policemen to the disputed area.

Okafor disclosed that immediately the policemen arrived the scene, the hoodlums opened fire on them.

“They were even using real bullets, not even cartridges, they actually wanted to kill our men, but God, being on our side, no policeman was killed.” he stated.

The Ebonyi police spokesman however, warned residents to avoid the disputed land, just as he pleaded with them not to take the law into their hands.

It would be recalled that the disputed land had claimed several lives before the weekend’s incident.