Not fewer than 4 lives are said to be lost, Houses set ablaze and people injured today 15/01/2017 in a renewed communal clash between the people
of Oku Iboku in Itu Local Government area of Akwa Ibom and Ikot
Offiong community in Odupani Local Government of Cross River state. As the road (Calabar-Itu Highway) is dangerous now, So many transport companies have stopped plying the road and some were asked to return back with the passengers due to the clash.
The fracas started silently on Friday 13/01/2017, The known clash is believed to have started again due to the unresolved dispute
over claims to the wetland demarcating the two communities.
The inter-communal conflict between the two communities has
over the years resulted in loss of lives including women and children.
Houses and markets were usually burned down while vehicles traveling
along the Calabar-Itu Highway were set ablaze and property along that
corridor also razed to the ground.
Crises between the Ibibio ethnic group in Itu LGA, Akwa
Ibom State and the Efiks in Odukpani LGA, Cross River State have
escalated since the 1970s and 1980s and become rampant in Nigeria since
1999.
In 2012, no fewer than 40 persons were killed, while four
riot policemen and the village head were reported to have been beheaded
in a renewed communal clash between the two communities. So if you have anyone planning on traveling along that part let the person know the issues on ground before moving, That's the intent of this post
