Many people, mostly fishermen have been reported killed and others declared missing in a renewed clash between Oku Iboku community in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State and Ikot Offiong in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State.
DAILY POST gathered that the incident occurred on Tuesday when unknown gunmen suspected to be Ikot Offiong warlords, in a speedboat, opened fire on a group of fishermen, killing many in the process.
One of the local fish merchants, Effiong Eneh, who spoke to journalists, said the incident happened around 10:00 am on Tuesday when those reported dead were on their way for their normal fishing business.
He lamented that the crisis between the two communities has defied all known traditional and political solutions even before the creation of Akwa Ibom State out of the old Cross River in 1987.
His words, “the crisis has been there between the two neighbouring communities for more than 30 years now. It is a lingering crisis, which has been coming and going. But in the last attack, which happened on Tuesday morning, three brothers from same parents have been killed, and three bodies have been recovered so far among those that have been killed”..
Mr. Ekikere Umoh, Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Moses Ekpo, whose office oversees boundary issues involving states, said he was yet to be fully briefed on the incident.
However, Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, SP Odiko Macdon, who confirmed the incident, said no live was lost.
He said the Commissioner of Police CP Zaki Ahmed has ordered a full-scale investigation on the matter.
“I can confirm that there was a renewed attack between two warring communities of Oku Iboku in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, and Ikot Offiong, from Cross River State, but we have yet to confirm any casualty. It is a lingering issue coming intermittently and both states Akwa Ibom and Cross River governments have been trying their best to resolve it.
“The Commissioner of police has ordered preliminary investigation into the incident and more deployments; we hope that the security agencies will bring the tension under control.
“I think politicians should come up with a political solution to the problem”, he said.
