Ebonyi/Cross River boundary crisis leaves two killed, three others missing

The renewed communal crisis between Izzi people in Ebonyi State and their counterpart in Obubara, Cross River State has left two persons dead, while three others are currently missing, CAPITAL POST has learnt.

Others declared missing in the age-long crisis were those from Obeagu Ibom, Amachi, and Izzi community.

In the Wednesday’s crisis, a 9-year old boy and an elderly man were found dead.

Warlords on Wednesday said to have drafted themselves from three Cross River communities of Eja village, Apiampkum, and Ijaga Oruenya in Obubara Local Government Area of Cross River State and over run Izzi community in Izzi LGA of Ebonyi State.

They were sporadic shooting immediately they entered the community, while the Police alledgedly retreated, thereby leaving the invaders to operate at will.

The source said: “The war Lords from the Cross river took over the village and the villagers relocated to the neighboring communities. But yesterday police succeeded in entering the village under attack at Obeagu Ibom village.

“Many houses were damaged, three persons declared missing and two reportedly killed, their bodies were seen on the road but no one could identify them because the village is deserted.

Speaking on the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ebonyi State, DSP Loveth Odah confirmed the attack, but said the situation was now under control.

“The Ebonyi CP Philip Sule Maku has beefed up security in the community.

‘’The renewed crisis between Obeagu Ibom village, the DPO Izzi Division said he led a team to the Obeagu Ibom village in Amachi community, attacked by Ijega, Apiamkpum, Orinya village. All in Obubara in Cross River State.

“Adequate security has been beefed up in the place and the commissioner of police Sule Maku has called on his Cross River counterpart to do the same in their side so that peace will reign while the National Boundary Commission, NBA have also been contacted for demarcation to avoid further destruction of properties and loss of lives.

“It was difficult earlier to enter the warring communities as the men of the Cross River State were seen aggressively around there but yesterday the police in Ebonyi succeeded in entering into Obeagu Ibom village.

“Some houses were burnt, some were also damaged, two persons were killed among them is a 9 years old boy and one male corpse too was seen there but yet to be identified as the villagers have deserted the area to a nearby community.

“Enough Policemen have been placed in the area to avoid another attack on the people.”