Unidentified gunmen suspected to be from Ikot Offiong
in Odukpani LGA of Cross River State attacked indigens of Oku Iboku in Itu local government
area of Akwa Ibom state on Friday, April 21.
According to ThisDay, dozens of people were killed on the waterways
that serve as boundary between the two sister states Twelve corpses of those murdered have been
recovered while many are yet to be seen in the attack.
Sources said the victims
were ambushed and attacked by the gunmen who invaded the territory
without any resistance as they embarked on their normal daily farming
and fishing businesses.
The attack, it was learnt, took place
within the Western flank of the Cross River bank of the River where the
defunct Oku Iboku paper mill had its jetty.
Sources said the
gunmen went to the area with more than 15 flying boats and started
shooting on the women who were returning from the farm; young men who
were diving and in search of periwinkles and lobsters on the bed of the
river, as well as fishermen on fishing expedition.
The bodies of
those killed were reportedly dumped in the river while those who
sustained gun and machete cuts who escaped to the village broke the news
of the attack.
A community leader from Oku Iboku who pleaded for
anonymity described the killing of indigenes of the area as a
provocative attack.
“Innocent women and men who went in search of
their mean of livelihood were just murdered for nothing. Some of the
corpses dumped in the river were trapped by the fishing nets. Three
corpses were recovered on Friday by the fishing nets and today
(Saturday) another nine corpses have been picked up floating on the
water”, he said.
The Chairman of the Itu Local Government
Transition Committee, Mrs. Else Esara confirmed the attack saying some
dead bodies from the river have been recovered. According to her,
as at Saturday, eight corpses had been recovered while divers were
still in the river searching for more victims.
“Nobody has been
arrested; they came to our place and attacked us when we didn’t prepare
and went back immediately”, she said.
The Akwa Ibom State Police
Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Chukwu Ikechukwu told THISDAY that
the report was yet to be confirmed, promising to give details when full
information is gathered.
However, the Cross River state Police Public Relations Officer, Irene Ugbo confirmed the report.
“Yes, we are aware of the problem but it is not true that 20 people
were killed. As at yesterday we got information that they are trying to
gather up again as the community people have another problem.
“As
you know our men are already on ground because since the problem
started we have not left that place, we have been on ground. Our men are
there, we are trying to make sure the situation is calm. As for now no
dead person has been confirmed. I think the area is calm because
immediately, the commissioner of Police sent policemen there, she said.
On allegation that nine bodies were recovered as at yesterday, she
said;
“no, not up to nine bodies, I can’t tell you how many bodies have
been brought but it is not up to that number…I can’t tell you of any
number right now because the Area Commander of that area has sent his
men out and when I called him this afternoon I asked him, he said he
does not know yet that I should wait let him give me the confirmation.
So I am still waiting”
More photos below…
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