Again,Igbeagu-Izzi count losses, As Rival Ukelle People Strick's Villages.
--Stakeholders call for intensify Effort To Demarcate The Boundary Land.
--Stakeholders call for intensify Effort To Demarcate The Boundary Land.
By Nwogha Ndubuisi Andy
FEW days after the visit of Nigeria Boundary Commission director general Mohammed Ahmed, the Ukelle people of Cross River state on weekend attacked the people of Izzi killing five people and destroyed property worth million of naira.
Our reporter gathered that the rival Ukelle people, five days after the peace talk held at Mfuma Secondary school field which both parties agreed to sheath sword and the Izzi people went home hoping their rival Ukelle accepted the directive given by the Director went for their farming business but to their amazement, the people attacked them again and killed five persons.
The Ukelle people was said to have attacked them on Saturday night 7th July, 2018 while the people was at asleep.
It was learnt that the people during their attack killed five persons and injured twenty others who are currently receiving treatment in a hospital within the area.
It was further learnt that the attack was lodged heavily in different parts of the community among villages that was badly affected are Eduphu-Ashi,Ndunwampfu, Okwerike, Nwankaleke, Ochafu,Okwata,
Speaking with one of the survivors, Joseph Nwamini told us that he was lucky to have hide inside bathroom with his wife and eleven months old son when he over heard them speaking in their Ukelle dialect as he understands the dialect and ran for his life whereas his building was razed down.
He said that, he was surprise to learn from them during conversation that the group had joined force with herdsmen living in the area to drive away the Izzi people so that the land would be allotted to them for grazing.
"I understand Ukelle dialect and when they invaded my compound they were chanting whereas one of them was saying in their dialect that the Fulani herdsmen would increase their pay and support, saying that they have succeed seizing our village and are sure of using the herders as boundary co- habits.
" immediately they finished putting all my houses on fire, one of them rushed to my kitchen and brought our big pot and they slaughtered my goats whereas some boasts that they must eat human flesh before they go back that night "
Mr.Nwamini further revealed that since September last year that the Fulani herdsmen living in the area had threatened to go in alliance with the Ukelle people to seize their land except the Izzians would give them the land for grazing not until they finally joined them after the Iphe-Igwe incident of March this year when the herders packed to join the Ukelle's.
He further told us that the Ukelle people carted away their property and seize their animals in their operations first before setting their houses ablaze.
Another eyes witness account, Chika Odah,business man narrating his ugly experience told our reporter that some group of boys who had laid ambush by the expressway waylaid them while he was traveling on weekend and beat them as they target to kill any passenger who speaks Izzi dialect failed, leaving them with sever bruise and cart away their belongings.
He appealed to the security agencies at the conflict zones to intensify effort to save motorists that ply the road.
An octogenarian farmer, Mbam Nshi collaborating the story said that the Ukelle people super imposed themselves on the area with Aukum people with whom they had lived in the boundary area for decades causing problem in the place.
He urged Federal and States governments to restrain Ukelle people to sheath their sword and abide by the order of peace accord reached by the National Boundary Commission Director till the proper thing would be done in the boundary lands.
However, speaking with HRH, Igwe Ogbonnaya Ukwa of Igbeagu community, he appealed his people to remain calm and law abiding as national boundary commission and the two states governments are ready to restore peace in the area, whereas charged the public to debunk the rumours making the round and other falsified propaganda speculating in social media by enemies of both states who are not happy to see peace return back to the two sisters States.
Also, lauded security agencies at the conflict zone, whereas, advised that they should maintain utmost impartiality given that there's more to it that meet the eyes.
It is recall that the Okporku river (Anyiem) formed the divisional boundary between Abakaliki and Ogoja division which Irikefe panel report of 1976 was constituted and same issue still lingered till date unresolved.
Our reporter gathered that the rival Ukelle people, five days after the peace talk held at Mfuma Secondary school field which both parties agreed to sheath sword and the Izzi people went home hoping their rival Ukelle accepted the directive given by the Director went for their farming business but to their amazement, the people attacked them again and killed five persons.
The Ukelle people was said to have attacked them on Saturday night 7th July, 2018 while the people was at asleep.
It was learnt that the people during their attack killed five persons and injured twenty others who are currently receiving treatment in a hospital within the area.
It was further learnt that the attack was lodged heavily in different parts of the community among villages that was badly affected are Eduphu-Ashi,Ndunwampfu, Okwerike, Nwankaleke, Ochafu,Okwata,
Speaking with one of the survivors, Joseph Nwamini told us that he was lucky to have hide inside bathroom with his wife and eleven months old son when he over heard them speaking in their Ukelle dialect as he understands the dialect and ran for his life whereas his building was razed down.
He said that, he was surprise to learn from them during conversation that the group had joined force with herdsmen living in the area to drive away the Izzi people so that the land would be allotted to them for grazing.
"I understand Ukelle dialect and when they invaded my compound they were chanting whereas one of them was saying in their dialect that the Fulani herdsmen would increase their pay and support, saying that they have succeed seizing our village and are sure of using the herders as boundary co- habits.
" immediately they finished putting all my houses on fire, one of them rushed to my kitchen and brought our big pot and they slaughtered my goats whereas some boasts that they must eat human flesh before they go back that night "
Mr.Nwamini further revealed that since September last year that the Fulani herdsmen living in the area had threatened to go in alliance with the Ukelle people to seize their land except the Izzians would give them the land for grazing not until they finally joined them after the Iphe-Igwe incident of March this year when the herders packed to join the Ukelle's.
He further told us that the Ukelle people carted away their property and seize their animals in their operations first before setting their houses ablaze.
Another eyes witness account, Chika Odah,business man narrating his ugly experience told our reporter that some group of boys who had laid ambush by the expressway waylaid them while he was traveling on weekend and beat them as they target to kill any passenger who speaks Izzi dialect failed, leaving them with sever bruise and cart away their belongings.
He appealed to the security agencies at the conflict zones to intensify effort to save motorists that ply the road.
An octogenarian farmer, Mbam Nshi collaborating the story said that the Ukelle people super imposed themselves on the area with Aukum people with whom they had lived in the boundary area for decades causing problem in the place.
He urged Federal and States governments to restrain Ukelle people to sheath their sword and abide by the order of peace accord reached by the National Boundary Commission Director till the proper thing would be done in the boundary lands.
However, speaking with HRH, Igwe Ogbonnaya Ukwa of Igbeagu community, he appealed his people to remain calm and law abiding as national boundary commission and the two states governments are ready to restore peace in the area, whereas charged the public to debunk the rumours making the round and other falsified propaganda speculating in social media by enemies of both states who are not happy to see peace return back to the two sisters States.
Also, lauded security agencies at the conflict zone, whereas, advised that they should maintain utmost impartiality given that there's more to it that meet the eyes.
It is recall that the Okporku river (Anyiem) formed the divisional boundary between Abakaliki and Ogoja division which Irikefe panel report of 1976 was constituted and same issue still lingered till date unresolved.
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