In the wake of a renewed land dispute between the Uko-nteghe Uda and Uko Akpan Enwang communities in Mbo local government area of Akwa Ibom state, five persons have been feared dead with many others displaced after houses were destroyed.
A source close to the warring communities told Blueprint in Uyo, the state capital on Wednesday, that the affected persons were killed between Tuesday, January 19, 2021, when the clash started and Wednesday January 20, 2021.
According to the source, the two communities have been fighting over a piece of land for a long period, adding that there have been reoccurrence of such clashes between the two communities whenever farming season draws near.
“The communities involved are Uko-nteghe Uda and Uko Akpan Enwang.They have been fighting over farmland and misunderstanding usually occurs during planting seasons just as it is happening now. So far, five people have been confirmed death, many injured, properties destroy and so many displaced,” the source said.
However, the Police Public Relations Officer, Odiko Macdon, commenting on the situation in Mbo said the command was yet to receive any information about any death.
He said the Commissioner of police, Andrew Amiengheme, had deployed some officers and men to quel the crisis adding that the stakeholders were also busy engaging the factions to embrace peace.
“We do not have any information about death concerning the crisis in Mbo.We know that there is a clash between two communities as a result of land and that issue is being addressed now. Stakeholders are meeting and engaging the people to a dialogue.
“The commissioner of police, has deployed officers to the place to restore peace. The Commissioner is calling on the warring factions to ensure they give peace a chance and maintain peaceful status quo, because resorting to violence does not pay. Even though there is no life lost, continuous escalation of the crisis may lead to lost of lives,” he said.
The Mbo crisis is coming few days after the eruption of hostilities between the Okopedi and Ammamong communities in Okobo local government area of the state.
