Scores have been injured why houses and farmlands are destroyed over alleged land dispute between two warring communities in Yala local government area of Cross River State.
O’Oba and Itega Okpoma are neighboring communities and have live in peace for decades before this incident.
It was gathered learnt that houses have been razed down and others injured as the two hitherto neighboring communities engage in a clash.
It was learnt that Itega Okpoma community had planted rice on a piece of land bordering the two communities, when some set of persons from O’Oba community set fire on them, which triggered the current crisis.
One Helen Agbor said: “Last night and into this morning (Wednesday), there was sporadic shooting and arson, especially on the major Ogoja-Abakaliki road that links the two communities.
“The Itega community had cultivated rice on the disputed swamp and had harvested, awaiting threshing. Overnight, the harvest was set ablaze. They pointed accusing fingers at the O’Oba people. That was what set off this year’s crisis.
“As a spill-over effect, neighboring communities, especially Utukpo, Olachor and Anchor have not been at peace. Members of the communities gathered this morning at their respective village squares. Delegations were sent to the Paramount Ruler, HRH Ogamode Onah Ipuole, by elders of the communities.
“The Utukpo delegation was led by the Ogbuole (deputy clan head), Chief Moses Oko,” she said.
Confirming the incident, The State Commissioner of Police, Aminu Alhassan, said the command was fully aware that miscreants allegedly from O’Oba invaded the other community which had accused them of setting the rice farm ablazed.
“Delegations from the warring communities had met with my DPO in charge of Okpoma. We have mobilized our men to take over these places. We are going to ensure peace and security,” the police boss said.
As at the time of filing this report, elders of the two communities were said to be holding meetings to resolve the issue, but some villagers are fleeing their communities for fear of being affected by the crisis.
Some villagers were also said to have taken refuge in the palace of the paramount ruler of Yala, HRH Ogamode Onah Ipuole.
