From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
The Cross River State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has again summoned chiefs of the Biakpan and Etono communities.
This follows the renewed crisis between the communities, which erupted on Monday, July 28, and reportedly claimed ten lives.
The command had, weeks ago, during the tenure of former Police Commissioner Segun Omosanyin, summoned the chiefs to a meeting in Calabar alongside the Biase Local Government Chairman, Edodi Eyong.
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Following the meeting, the command promised to disarm the warring communities by conducting a disarmament exercise, but it remains to be seen if the exercise took place.
The Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Igris Ewa, confirmed that the current Police Commissioner, Rasheed Afegbua, has summoned the chiefs to a meeting in his office over the crisis on Friday, August 1.
He maintained that the command is aware of the ongoing conflict in the area, particularly the deadly clash on Monday, but said the number of deaths has not been confirmed.
Meanwhile, sources in both communities confirmed that the latest round of violence began early Monday when four Biakpan youths, including a local gang leader identified as their “Capone,” were reportedly killed in an ambush in Etono.
They said the killing sparked a reprisal attack the following day, with Biakpan youths allegedly storming Etono and killing at least six mercenaries said to have been hired by the Etono community.
Egwu, a resident in Biakpan, accused the Etono side of provoking the violence by attacking farmers and women and attempting to burn strategic structures in Biakpan.
“Etono people are paying mercenaries hefty sums to fight for them. They’ve stockpiled heavy weapons, but we’re equal to the task,” he alleged.
However, Jackson Okpo claimed Biakpan fighters had “eliminated a significant number” of their warriors, including women, and accused them of trying to dominate the land.
“We’ve suffered so much oppression from Biakpan. They’ve seized our lands because they think they have more people, resources, and weapons,” Okpo said.
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