A fresh outbreak of violence has claimed the life of a farmer and left several others with gunshot injuries in Urugbam community, Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State, following an attack by unidentified gunmen.
Residents told Daily Trust that the attackers invaded farmlands in Urugbam on Saturday evening and shot dead Mr. Obong Ikor, while several others sustained injuries and were taken to neighbouring communities for treatment.
The latest incident has heightened tension in the area, where Urugbam and neighbouring Egbor communities have been locked in a protracted communal dispute since 2020.
Previous clashes reportedly claimed several lives and destroyed property before peace efforts brought relative calm.
A former Personal Assistant to a former Vice President and an indigene of Urugbam, Mr. Philip Obin, alleged that the attackers came from neighbouring Egbor community and described the assault as unprovoked.
Obin claimed the attack occurred shortly after a change of personnel at the Forward Operating Base established by the Federal Government to contain recurring violence in the area.
“We suspect the attackers took advantage of the reduced number of soldiers after the change of guard to launch the attack. The soldiers cannot possibly be in every part of the bush to prevent such incidents,” he said.
Lamented that no arrests had been made more than 24 hours after the incident, Obin accused the authorities of failing to respond adequately to previous petitions or provide relief and rehabilitation for victims of earlier attacks.
However, a youth leader in Egbor community, Mr. Davies Ekor, denied allegations that his community launched an unprovoked attack, insisting that the violence was a response to provocation.
“We are not mad people to leave our community and attack another when peace talks have been ongoing. They provoked us,” Ekor said.
Meanwhile, fear of renewed hostilities has reportedly forced many residents of Egbor to flee their homes over concerns of possible reprisal attacks.
Reacting, the Police Public Relations Officer in Cross River State, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, confirmed the incident and said investigations had commenced.
Akata said the two farmers from Orugbam community were allegedly attacked by unidentified gunmen while working on their farmland near Egbor on Saturday afternoon.
Police identified the victims as Mr. Nkeruwem Ikoh and Mr. Ukam Ajah Okpan.
Ikoh later died from his injuries, while the second victim is receiving treatment.
Akata said the deceased’s body had been deposited at Uwana Mortuary in Afikpo, Ebonyi State.
The Command assured residents that a thorough investigation was underway to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.