Nyok|26 June 2018
Indigenes and residents of southern Ukelle in Yala local government area in Cross River State have called on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who's on a visit to the state to intervene into the communal land disputes ongoing between Izzi people in Ukelle-Yala and Ukelle South all in Cross River NegroidHaven can say.
There's ongoing serious communal crisis over land dispute between Yala local government in Cross River State and Izzi nation still in the state. There are sporadic shootings, burning of houses, hunger, casualties in Yala.
According to an insider in Ukelle in Yala LGA, the perennial land dispute involves the use of heavy military hardwares, small weaponry, etc on the part of the Izzi LG who are suspected to be funded by the political elite.
According to a source in Yala, Mr Joe Esse, who made a thread about the incident on Facebook, he said, 'I just came out of the front.
'Izzi have fully armed local army, they are using AK 47, assaults, G3, Kala Sheen, etc., the shooting at us is sporadic and nonstop, day and night we have not slept, they are killing us (Ukelle), they are burning our communities, our lands have been captured, our youths who have been trying to negotiate for peace are been killed, our women and children rendered homeless. To show our vulnerability and armless situation, the mercenaries hired by Izzi were caught and after freewill confession, we handed them over to the police, whereas the soldiers who came to restore peace were shot at by the Izzi warriors.
'Please we are very vulnerable, we need food, we need relief materials, pls every good hearted person should come to our aide. Help us pls help Ukelle'.
Women from Ipolo, Ntrigom, Okpodon, Ijibolo and Mfuma villages of southern Ukelle have all moved to nearby villages for security reason. Another source has said that no Ukelle village is under their control. Yes, we narrowly lost a soul, and so far he has bn the only one n so shall it remain.
As yesterday, some houses were touched in Ijibolo, Okpodon. There is yet no security presence in Yala.
An interesting point to note is that the fight is between the Izzi in Yala, Cross River State against the Ukelle in southern Ukelle. Though there's suspected reinforcement from Izzi LGA in Ebonyi.
Government should intervene.
Nyok
Is the Blogger-in-Chief, Editor-in-Chief & Publisher of NegroidHaven
