By Emeka Samuel, Uyo
The resurgence of the protracted communal war between two neighbouring communities of Oku Iboku in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom and Ikot Offiong in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River state has claimed no fewer than four lives.
The age-long dispute over the ownership of some fishing communities adjourning the Calabar-Itu river, according to Chief Effiong Eneh, a local fish merchant, “has defied all known traditional and political solutions even before the creation of Akwa Ibom state out of the old Cross River in 1987”.
Eneh said the incident, which he described as sad, happened late Tuesday night, explaining that “the deceased left for their fishing business at about 10:00AM”.
Those killed, he added, “are all from Oku Iboku including three brothers from same parents”, adding that “three dead bodies have been recovered so far”, while mostly youths were still waiting for the remains of the other four to float to the seashore.
Lamenting the incident, Bassey Willams, a native of the neighbouring Ayadehe community, told newsmen that “because of the crises which have claimed several lives, people were warned not to go deep into the sea for fishing”.
Mr. Ekikere Umoh, Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Deputy Governor, Obong Moses Ekpo, whose office oversees boundary issues involving the state, said he was yet to be fully briefed on the incident.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Odiko Macdon, a Police Superintendent, said: “we have already commenced a preliminary investigation into the incident”.
He suggested what he called “pro-active measures by politicians and security agencies to bring lasting peace to the crises”.
“I think politicians should come up with a political solution to the problem” Odiko said.
