June 27, (THEWILL) – Former Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Chief Akin Ricketts, has called for calm over the communal crisis that has engulfed the community.
Chief Ricketts made the appeal in a statement made available to THEWILL in Calabar. His reaction follows the renewed communal clash that has engulfed the community recent days.
He called on frontline individuals, traditional heads, Governor Ben Ayade, Army, police, civil defense, to rise up and intervene in restoring peace immediately.
Ricketts stressed that no piece of land is worth the bloodletting in Yakurr and Obubra, urging the state governor to immediately set up a panel of inquiry to determine the immediate and remote cause of this conflict towards addressing this matter permanently.
Following the crisis, residents of Nko have abandoned their homes in droves and fled to Ugep in Yakurr LGA.
Meanwhile, soldiers of the Nigerian Army had raided Nko community in Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State, killing four and injuring many others.
The soldiers were drafted from nearby Edor Barracks in Ikom to quell the communal war between Nko and Onyadama on, Saturday, June 25, 2022.
In the wee hours of Sunday, the soldiers staged a raid – razing down buildings and firing live bullets at villagers, alleging that their personnel was killed by Nko youths.
On Monday morning, women of the community, who only tied wrappers and green leaves, staged a protest calling for an end to the raid and the release of their sons arrested by the army.
Effiom Umet, a resident stressed that, the soldiers have taken over the community, the palace of the Village Head of Nko – Obol Effiom Ayomobi has been set ablaze as well as other buildings by the ravaging soldiers.
“After the raiding by the army men last night, normalcy returned but suddenly between 6 am this earlier today (monday), they appeared again and started shooting. Right now, every Nko man is in the bush. They claim Nko people shot their personnel.
“There is no single Nko man at home. Everywhere is deserted and they keep burning houses here and there. One of the victims who they shot dead is Ebri Etta by name and he is about 39 years-old.
“Also, the palace of the village head has been burnt and people are running to nearby villages – Mkpani and Ugep for refuge,” the source said.
The Public Relations Officer of the 13 Brigade Captain Dorcas Aluko has yet to react to the crisis.
About the Author
THEWILL Correspondent, Aniekan Bassey has over six years experience that spans across several fields in print journalism including development communication, sexual reproductive and health rights issues, crime, climate change, social justice, business and human interest stories.
