Disturbed by the renewed hostilities between the Idomi and Ugep communities in the Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State, a member of the House of Representatives representing the Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency, Dr Alex Egbona, has again appealed to the warring communities to allow peace to reign.
Egbona who described the war that has already claimed two lives as senseless and barbaric, has equally urged the local, state government, security agencies as well as traditional rulers from the area, to work towards restoring peace.
According to the police, Mr Omini Iyam Ebri, 56 years old, was shot in the face while in his farm along Ekpenti Farm Road, off Idomi-Ugep, while Ubi Ofem Ubi, 58 years, who was with the deceased, sustained injuries in his left leg during the attack and was rushed to the hospital, but died hours later.
The police said operatives, in collaboration with VCRU personnel, have been deployed to the area to maintain peace, prevent further escalation, and reassure residents while efforts to identify and apprehend those responsible.
Before now, Egbona had visited the two communities at the beginning of the clash early last month, where he pleaded with them to stop the war and embrace peace. Traditional rulers from both communities had also promised to embrace peace.
Upon hearing that fresh crisis had erupted, Egbona expressed disappointment and urged them to shun every form of violence, saying he felt bad that despite his and other people’s intervention, the people still went ahead to initiate another round of crisis.
“At the beginning of this crisis recently, I did not only send elder statesmen to appease the warriors, I had equally visited them personally, all in an effort to quench the fire and restore peace.
“I was given the assurance that there won’t be any more war. But it shocks me that fresh hostilities have erupted, leading to loss of lives and property. We cannot continue like this. That is why I have totally condemned these renewed hostilities and called on the two communities to end the war now.
“I urge our royal fathers in the two communities to call their subjects to order. We cannot grow by destroying lives and property. This madness must stop now. I also call on the state government and security agencies to be at their best and ensure that normalcy is restored and perpetrators made to face the full wrath of the law. Enough of this senseless blood-letting and carnage in our communities, Egbona said in a statement he signed personally on Tuesday.
