Former economic adviser to former governor of Cross River State, Prof Ndem Ayara Ndiyo, has raised alarm of alleged genocide by people of Isu community in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State against the Okwa Eburutu in Odukpani LGA of the Cross River.
In a widely broadcast radio interview on Tuesday morning monitored in Calabar, the University of Calaabar lecturer alleged that there is an ongoing killing of the Okwa people.
According to him, the organised killing started during the Nigeria civil war in the mid 1960s.
Ndem who was one time chairman of peace and security panel between the peoples of Isu and Okwa in both states, explained that the origin of the communal war is the large deposit of limestone in Okwa.
“The ongoing killing of Okwa people has been an age long genocide agenda over limestone. It has been here since civil war days.
“We are surrounded by hostile neighbours, the Isu people. We’re located in the north-western flank of northern Calabar. Their agenda is to eliminate us who are living across the river and the neighbouring Otuma community of Biase LGA of Cross River Statedue to limestone,” he said.
He buttressed his assertion that as a result of the skirmishes late Gen Paul Omu, then military administrator of then South Eastern state visited Ukwa. Also former governors, Late Brigadier Dan Archibong of Cross River and Brig Ike Nwachkwu retired of Abia State jointly visited the troubled site.
He said there have been other high profile visits yet there has not been any end to the alleged daily killings.
Ndem maintained that the Isu people have attempted to annex their land saying they are part of Abia State.
“We’re Efik people. This is why during the census, we told the population people so. We have usually resisted their advances towards the limestone,” he said.
He alleged that his people do not have security cover like the Isu people.
“We need functional police station. We need army presence. There are lots of insecurity and killings which are not reported.”
According to him, there is clear cut boundary demarcation which is the river, disclosing that there have been several court judgments and government panels on the boundary lines.
He lamented that their constrain is that they have access only through the Isu community, which further make Ukwa people vulnerable to attacks.
“We need functional mobile police stations to quell the daily aggression and killings in our communities”, he said.
Reacting, the Assistant Inspector General of Police for Zone Six, Jonathan Towuru, denied that there is ongoing killings in the affected communities.
“Even though the Isu community is now in Zone 9 yet there has been intervention through our collaborations.
“Security authorities are scheduled to meet with the political authorities in both states as well as key stakeholders. We have stemmed the situation,” he said.
UNICAL lecturer raises alarm over alleged genocide in Cross River community