At least five persons have been killed while three others are said to be missing in a renewed boundary dispute between the people of Izzi in Ebonyi State and people of Obubara in Cross River State.
Speaking with 9NEWS NIGERIA on telephone, a resident from Obeagu confirmed to our correspondent that three other persons from Obeagu Ibom, Amachi, Izzi community are still missing following the clash.
According to him, at least six houses in the community were also burnt while many residents of the area have been rendered homeless while many others are injured.
The Crisis Rocking Communities In Ebonyi And Cross River, How It Started. ( Another Resident Narrates What Happened)
Another resident who does want his name mentioned revealed that the decades-long boundary war restarted on Wednesday leaving at least five persons dead.
The suspected gunmen from the three Cross River communities having boundary issues with the Izzi community invaded the area.
The communities include Apiampkum, Ijaga and, Oruenya, all in Obubara Local Government Area of Cross River State.
According to him, the deadly gunmen upon entering the community started shooting sporadically and destroyed many houses.
“The warlords from Cross River took over the Ebonyi community on Wednesday and were shooting sporadically at them. The police retreated to avoid return firing because if they didn’t retreat, the Cross River people will continue to shoot. Three houses were burnt down,” the resident said
“The warlords from Cross River took over the village and the villagers relocated to the neighbouring communities.
“But yesterday, police succeeded in entering the area under attack at Obeagu Ibom village.
“Many houses were damaged, three persons declared missing and two reportedly killed, their bodies were seen on the road but no one could identify them because the village is deserted.
“At Zaki Ibam village, a one-story building was burnt down, a bus, bicycle inside the compound were also burnt down. So many other houses were damaged”, he said.
