10 Killed in Border Clash Between Abia, Cross River Communities
Ten persons have reportedly killed and several
houses razed in bloody clashes between two communities on both side of
Abia/Cross River States’ border.
As Tuesday's tensions were still running high, the
state governments and security agencies have moved to control the situation.
The clashes erupted between the people of the Isu
clan in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State and their border
neighbour, Utuma in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State. It was gathered that the bone of contention
is limestone deposits discovered in Isu with the Utuma people claiming that the
area where the mineral deposit is located belongs to them.
With the high casualty figure recorded in the
border clash, the people of Isu clan have sent an SOS message to Abia State Government
to come to their aid in order to save them from being wiped out by their
neighbours.
The Abia State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Anthony
Ogbizi, confirmed the incident to journalists in Umuahia, saying the situation
has been brought under control by the police.
While he denied the casualty figures, the CP said any
community that recorded casualties should compile the names of the victims and
submit them to the police for necessary action.
Ogbizi explained that the warring communities had
taken hostages and were prevailed to release the captives but the people of
Utuma claimed that their people were tortured by Isu people hence they invaded
the Abia community and burnt their houses.
It was learnt that the clashes between the two
border communities broke out penultimate Wednesday and lingered for days before
it was brought to the attention of the government.
An aide to the Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu,
Nicholas Igwe Kalu, who is from the affected community, confirmed that no fewer
than 10 persons from Isu died in the clashes while several houses were razed.
According to him, the community has been deserted
as men, women and children have fled the area for their safety and
"tension is still very high" contrary to the police claim that they
have brought the situation under control.
On the cause of the border clashes, Kalu traced it
to an ongoing road project being done by Ibeto Group preparatory to the
exploitation of the limestone discovered in Isu.
He stated that the Utuma people had indeed
intensified their attacks on Isu people following the discovery of the
limestone and the publicity it has attracted since Ibeto Group expressed
interest in exploiting the precious mineral.
Kalu alleged that the Utuma people were the first
to take hostages when emissaries from Isu were sent to go and appeal to their
Cross River State neighbours not to disrupt the road project by Ibeto. He alleged
that in reaction, Isu people also abducted some Utuma people but both sides
eventually released their captives following the intervention of the military.
The governor aide insisted that “it is a bloody
lie” for anybody to claim that there were no casualties in the border clash
because after the exchange of hostages “they (Utuma people) went and reinforced
and launched an unprovoked attack with sophisticated weapons, killing and
destroying houses.”
Kalu lamented that the displaced persons from Isu
clan were now languishing in camps in Aro where they are taking refuge and need
medical and food supplies to stay healthy pending when their home would be safe
for their return.
“If the government fails to intervene immediately,
our clan may be wiped out,” he said, adding that he had brought the attention
of the Abia State Deputy Governor, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, (presently acting
governor) to the security issue in the border community.
“We want the government to bring the National
Boundary Commission (NBC) to, as a matter of urgency, come and demarcate our
boundary with Cross River State as the best permanent solution to constant
clashes between us and the Cross River State
people,” Kalu said.
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