Communal clash: 14 feared dead, 18 hospitalised, several houses burnt in C’River communities

Judex Okoro, Calabar

The communal clash between Usumutong and Ebom communities in Cross River state has continued to gather momentum as about 14 persons from Ebom are feared dead following an early morning invasion of the community by the Usimutong’s.

Besides, 18 persons have been hospitalised and several house razed by the invaders.

The two brotherly communities have been engaged in an age long land disput, leading to fratricidal war and subsequent loss of lives.

The clash got to climax when in 2005 the Ebom invaded the Ebijakara communities and levelled the place. Today, Ebijakara is a waste land and they are said to be accommodated by the Usumutong people.

The recent hostilities broke out at the wee hours of Thursday when mercenaries from Usumutong invaded Ebom and destroyed property worth millions of naira.

The recent invasion has been described as a reprisal attack  carried out by the Ebijakara indigenes, who are said to linving at Usumutong community.

Checks by Daily Sun revealed that over 14 persons are feared dead with 18 hospitalised at various hospitals in Ugep and its environs.

An indigene of Ebom, who simply gave his name as Ogbonna, said: “About 5:00 am on Thurssay, we were woken up by gunshots and shouts from neighbours. We later realised that our community has been invade by Enijakara/Usumutong people.

“Of coirse, it was too late to regroup and launch back attack. So most of us ran imto the bush and nearby villages for safety. I can tell you that several house have been razed and innocent lives lost in the process.

“Most of us left our houses without a pin as we never expected this considering the fact that there has been series of peace meeting to find lasting solution to the imbroglio. It is quite a pity that while were almost at the verge of achieving peace this ugly incident happened again,” he stated.

Corroborating, another victim, John Egbe, said: “The attack was launched by Ebijajara people. They came with heavy and sophisticated weapons and they came from  both sides  and inflicted damages on our people.

“The people  of Ebijakara, an aggrieved community, was sacked by their Ebom neighbours in 2005 and so we suspect that they came for revenge. And that is what happened today,” he lamented.

 

He called on government to find a way of resetting the Ebijakara people, adding that it  would be difficult to stop this recurring conflicts in the area.