Communal clash Claims 2 Lives In Odukpani Qua, New Netim Communities
Ndifereke BASSEY
At least two people have been killed following renewed hostilities between Odukpani Qua and New Netim Communities in Cross River State.
The sad event which occured over the weekend and the bodies of the victims suspected to be a woman and her daughter found in a bush.
The grim incident has again brought to the fore the long standing dispute between the two communitiies.
Sources say the victims were discovered by the Divisional Police Officer in Odukpani following his intervention to quell the renewed violence between the communitie
Investigations to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the deaths are underway by the State Police command.
State Police Commissioner Gyogon Grimah in an interview said two tactical teams have been deployed to the area and normalcy has been restored to the warring communities.
Also speaking about the incident, the Special Adviser to the Cross River State governor on General Duties Ekpenyong Akiba advised communities to embrace peace to ensure development gets to the hinterlands of the state.
According to him, "There are a lot of projects coming into the state courtesy of the present administration and where there is no peace there will be no development".
He pleaded with the warring communities to maintain peace and know how to accommodate each other.
Chairman of the Odukpani Local Government Area, Etim Asido say they have engaged Police authorities to ensure peace.
He emphasized that "This move aims to prevent a further breakdown of law and order and encourage peace, following a history of communal clashes between the two communities", he said.
He warned warring communities within the state that nothing will stop the present administration from bringing development to communities in the area.
The crisis between the Odukpani Qua and New Netim Communities has been lingering over the years.
Previous clashes have resulted in significant damage, with reports of houses burnt, vehicles razed, and lives lost.
