Earlier today there was a communal clash between Ikom-Obubra (Alisi and OChong Communities). Houses were being burnt, cars destroyed, drivers are being brutalized and passengers were thrown in a state of panic.
Former Governorship aspirant- Mr. Emmanuel Abeshi was attacked and his car vandalized – Kossyderrickent has learnt.
Reports coming says that the Nigerian military have cleared the block highway earlier blocked by the youths. While clamness are said to have returned to these town.
Press Statement on the Civil Disturbance at Ochon-Alesi
“It is with profound sadness that I received the news of the breakout of violence between Alesi and Ochon- the two border communities of Obubra and Ikom Local Government Area, over farmlands.
“In the early hours of 8th March, I spoke with” some community and youth leaders of Ochon, who expressed their anger, frustrations, and disappointments to me regarding unfair treatment meted on them by the military personnel that visited the crisis location as they shot LIVE bullets at protesters. Unconfirmed reports from Ochon axis have it that so far two lives have been lost.
“After pleading with the aggrieved parties to maintain some calm while we tried to reach out to the authorities and leaders from the Ikom axis, I put a call through to the Cross River State Commissioner of Police to inundate him with the situation, and the need to get his men to the location as fast as possible since the matter was a civil disturbance between two neighbouring communities. He confirmed to me that the reports had already reached his office. He also stated that firsthand reports reaching his office indicated that on both sides of the conflict, the youth erected blockades on the federal highway thus debarring the free movement of other law-abiding citizens. He promised to put a call to the DPO of Obubra Police station to move his men to Ochon to avoid further breakdown of law and order.
“I would like to use this opportunity to admonish our youths to please stand down from further confrontations as we try to engage the community and political leaders from both sides of the divide to bring about a lasting solution to the boundary issue between both communities that periodically blows over into a full-fledged confrontation, bringing in its tow loss of lives, property, peace, and progress.
“The images I have seen so far have been disturbing and appear like a lurch over an abyss so profound it is beyond the reach of my senses. I also would like to implore the soldiers of the Nigerian Army on the ground to do all they can in conjunction with officers of the Nigerian Police force to return peace to calm the embers of this unfortunate flame so dialogue can commence.
Ken Egbas
(Former Special Adviser, Strategic Planning and Aspirant for the Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency seat in the Federal House of Representatives).”
Video below:
I commend the Nigerian Military for stepping in to clear the road block that was mounted by warring youths over the war between Ochon and Alesi communities in Obubra and Ikom in Cross River State.
The sad reality is that this war was fought on the Federal Highway where hundreds of vehicles conveying passengers and goods passes through.
At all times, our youths should seek the option of peace and say NO to WAR.
Posted by George Odok Jnr on Tuesday, March 8, 2022
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