BIASE (CONVERSEER) – Another round of shootings and killings has resumed in the ongoing communal skirmish between two brotherly communities of Etono 2 and Biakpan in Biase LGA of Cross River State.
The resumption of hostilities happened last week when youths from Etono 2 were alleged to have attacked and killed a visitor to Biakpan and another youth whose identity was not immediately known.
Before then there were reports that nearly half 50 persons had been killed on both sides.
In the latest resurgence, a source said, “Sporadic shootings were heard on Monday and Tuesday inside Biakpan. A few persons have been killed.”
State Security Adviser (South) Commander Patrick Odiong (Rtd.) told DAILY POST on the phone that he has his men on the ground to calm the situation.
Over three weeks ago, the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Olusegun Omosanyin, summoned the two sides to his Headquarters in Calabar and cautioned them.
The police commissioner had disclosed how there was massive arms build-up by the two communities and said he would launch police action to retrieve the arms from them.
He had expressed anger that the two sides had earlier refused to appear before him three times when he summoned them, adding that he had also despatched his key officers to the two communities.
Following the resumption of the killings today, the police commissioner again met with the leadership of Biase LGA in his office.
He assured that he would mobilise his men today to Biakpan and Etono 2 to quell the uprising.
DAILY POST spoke with some concerned stakeholders from the two communities, and they lamented that often, when police and soldiers sent to douse tensions would leave, hostilities would resume soon after.
A youth leader from Etono 2, who gave his name as Egwu Jerry, lamented, “The presence of the security men usually gives us confidence, but once they leave, our safety is no longer guaranteed. We’re few compared with those from Biakpan.”
He also lamented that they do not have access roads elsewhere than the one into Biakpan, which is why their adversaries usually encircle and easily attack and kill them.
But a chief from Biakpan, who gave his name as Onun Ekpezu, alleged that the Etono people were too aggressive and violent, destroyed their important properties and farms, and killed their people and visitors.
“Because of these, our youths have positioned themselves to defend our women and properties”, Ekpezu said.
It is understood that a renowned religious leader who hails from Biakpan, His Holiness Olumba Olumba Obu, has severally invited both sides for a peace meeting in Calabar, but the Etono people have always refused to honour the invitation.
