Armed Youths Attack Ikom, Shoot One In C/River Communal Violence

By Musa kutama, Calabar

Clash between Ikom and Obubra communities in Cross River state has worsened as armed groups have allegedly invaded Okosora clan, leaving one person killed and several others wounded.

It would be recalled that there has been lingering communal clash between Alesi, Ekukunela and Agbaragba communities in Ikom LGA, and Ochon, Isabang and Odonget in neighbouring Obubra LGA in Cross River state.

This fratricide war has defied all government solutions, even as Governor Bassey Otu continued with peace talks with the aim of bringing a lasting solution to the persisting communal clash.

The latest victim is identified as Junior Ebi Anara, who hails from Okosora clan, in Ofutop, Ikom Local Government area.

Despite Governor Bassey Otu’s warning that both sides should maintain status quo, gunshots were again heard at the border area between Ikom and Obubra, precisely at (Mfam Osusoh Okpon (At Okosora border area with Onye Okpon).

Findings have revealed that,l the renewed attack occured on Saturday, 11/10/2025. Eyewitnesses and survivors account indicated that youths from Ofutop attempted to stop opposition armed groups from harvesting ripened cocoa from their farms located at the disputed area.

A source who spoke through an interpreter said: “when we heard that those men had gone to steal our crops, we went to stop them, telling them to leave our cocoa, but one of them opened fire and shot one of us while the rest fled the scene.”

Father of the victim, narrated how he got the news of his son’s tragedy; “I was at home when some people came to me telling me that my son had been shot at the farm.

“I went with them to get my son and took him to the hospital, before we got there, the armed men had left, I was told he tried stopping the men from taking away stolen cocoa from the farm,” he explained.

It is yet unclear who led the armed groups into the farms within the disputed area, but residents and farm owners within the disputed zone keep expressing worry over the safety of their crops.

Our reporters observe that this is about the third attack at farmers in the area by armed men since the governor’s intervention began.