By Akanimo Sampson
The battle for a grazing land for cattle which has allegedly been fueling frequent communal clashes in Odukpani local government area of Cross River State between last June 13 and this July 23, has so far claimed around 100 lives, including women and children, leaving more than 5,000 persons homeless and reducing 10 villages to rubbles.
Settlements in the bleeding local government area with a population of 257,800 persons, include Akpap Okoyong, Eki, Eniong Abatim, Ito, Idere, Ukwa Ibom, Creek Town, Inuakpa Okoyong, Okurikang, among others.
Odukpani falls under Cross River South Senatorial District alongside Calabar Municipal, Calabar South, Akamkpa, Akpabuyo and Bakassi local government areas. The area which also forms a Federal Constituency alongside Calabar Municipal local government area, covers an area of 1,355 km².
It is bounded to the North by Biase Local Government Area, to the North-East and to the East by Akamkpa Local Government Area, to the South by Calabar Municipal and Calabar South local government areas, to the West by Akwa Ibom State, and to the North-West by Abia State.
Within the period, attacks and reprisals sacked the villages of Mbiabo Edere, Ediong, Obomitiat, Idim Ndon, Mkpanuruk, Etehentem, Ikot Otu, Ikot Efa, Ikot Iwatt, Ikot Offiong, Ekpene Eki, Obodio and Obionno in Mbibo Ebom and Eki.
The latest clashes between Ntan Obu-Ukpe of Odukpani and Ikpanya community in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, allegedly left over 40 persons dead. Among them were operatives of the Police Mobile Force and scores of women and children reported missing.
While the Chairman of Odukpani local government area, Stephen Asuquo, confirmed that the mayhem recorded a number of casualties, Spokesman for the Police in the state, Hogan Bassey, said he could not give the exact number of the deceased. “We cannot give the casualty figures for now because we just discovered another person found dead in the area,’’ Bassey added.
According to the council chairman, even properties are being brought down in the feud, pointing out, “There is no house standing there, the entire village has been destroyed and burnt down.’’
He said, “I can say it is as a result of the struggle by people from Ikpanya for the land that belongs to the Ntan Obu-Ukpe and Ikpanya is in Ibiono Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, while Ntan Obu is in Odukpani. Something akin to this took place a year ago and the deputy governors of the two states met and agreed that everything should return to status quo ante that was the position before the conflict.
“A Supreme Court judgment has ruled that the land belongs to Odukpani and the people of Odukpani are Cross River indigenes and the people from Ikpanya have tried to lease out Ntan Obu land to cattle rearers to rear their cattle there. So, I am appealing to the cattle rearers, we don’t want cattle rearers being there, but you must recognise the overlords and not that of the neighbouring community.’’
In the mean time, when an Administrative Panel of Enquiry visited the affected villages last week, nobody was found in the communities in virtually all the battle grounds except in Udim Ndom where a young unclad boy was sighted wondering about.
There was no human being or animal in all the devastated villages, revealing the extent of damage wrecked by the clashes. Many of the houses were burnt or pulled down with some valuables like doors, roof zincs and windows carted away while the economic trees were cut down.
Chairman of the seven-man panel, Chief Victor Effiom Ekpo, who were there on a fact-finding mission, strongly condemned what he described as ‘’the wanton destruction of lives and property,’’ adding, “The destruction is bizarre. The Primary Health Centre and schools have been burnt down, leaving over 1000 pupils out of school. Even the transformer was not spared.’’
The panel chairman said, “It is sad that brothers can go this far destroying lives and property. It is very sad and that is why the governor (Governor Ben Ayade) set up this committee for us to come and see things for ourselves and also sound a serious warning that today should be the end of fighting in Mbiabo Ebom Itiat and Eki council wards, else anyone caught will have his or herself to blame.’’
For the Clan Head of Obom Itiat Edere, Etubom Effiong Asuquo Nyong, ‘’the conflict that engulfed my area is as a result of people claiming that I and my community must not exist. That we must go back to Calabar were we came from and they erroneously said the land which we live belongs to them.
“By origin, I am Abayen, our neighbours in Eki have tried to annex us by force but our objection has led to this crisis. In fact, any community we run to as refugees must be attacked too by those who want to take over our land.’’
Former Local Government Chairman, Etubom Justin Asuquo, who spoke for the people of Eki ward said: “This incident started last year but we were seeing peace coming close until June 13 when there was a serious attack on the people of Idim Ndon.
“That day, youths from Obom Itiat, Mbiabo and Ikot Offiong invaded Idim Ndom at about 2:00a.m and killed 17 persons. Since then, the attacks have continued till date. More than 25 persons have been killed from our side alone.
“We are of the view that if the key actors involved are fished out for them to sign an undertaking of peace, it will reduce the tension. Also, there should be security patrol along the riverine area from Okrikang to Atan Eki beach. The state government should involve traditional rulers in resolving issues of boundary demarcation, most especially between Ediong and Obom, Itiat and Idim Ndon.’’
