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By Akpan David, Calabar
The Assistant Inspector General of Police for Zone Six, Jonathan Towuru has denied that there is an organised killings in Ukwa Eburutu in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State.
In the last few months there have been reports of skirmishes between the people of Ukwa Eburutu and those of Isu in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State where there have been alleged mayhem on both sides.
There are reports that the source of the inter-state bloodletting is the limestone found in commercial quantities in Ukwa Eburutu which Isu people are also laying claims to.
Following statewide radio interview granted by a prominent son of the State and former special adviser on economic affairs to former Governor Liyel Imoke, Prof. Ndem Ayara, AIG Towuru even though the Isu community is in Zone 9 of Nigeria Police, not under his jurisdiction yet there have been interventions through his collaborations with his counterpart in Zone 9.
Towuru said they are to billed to interface with political leaders from both state shortly over the continual faceoff.
“Security authorities are scheduled to meet with the political authorities in both states as well as key stakeholders. We have stemmed the situation…”, he said.
in the radio interview on Tuesday, Prof Ndem, a lecturer at University of Calabar, raised alarm of alleged genocide against his Ukwa Eburutu people by people of Isu community.
Ndem who has chaired the peace and security panel between the two peoples,
explained that organised killing against Ukwa people started during the Nigeria civil war in the mid 1960s.
“The ongoing killing of Okwa people has been an age long genocide agenda over limestone. It has been here since civil war days.
“We are surrounded by hostile neighbours, the Isu people. We’re located in the north-western flank of northern Calabar. Their agenda is to eliminate us who are living across the river and the neighbouring Otuma community of Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State due to limestone,” he stressed.
He stated that military administrators and governors of both states and other high profile dignitaries have visited the troubled site yet there has not been any end to the alleged daily killings.
Ndem maintained that the Isu people have attempted to annex their land saying they are part of Abia State.
“We need functional police station. We need army presence. There are lots of insecurity and killings which are not reported.”
According to him, there is clear cut boundary demarcation which is the river, disclosing that there have been several court judgments and government panels on the boundary lines.
He lamented that their constrain is that they have access only through the Isu community, which further make Ukwa people vulnerable to attacks.
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