At least seven people have died following a communal crisis between the Tiv people of Benue State and the Yache community in Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State.
Unnamed sources said the conflict is over farmland and boundaries between the two communities, adding that apart from those that are dead, other victims, including women and children, on both sides were seriously injured, some suffered fatal machete wounds to their necks, foreheads and legs.
Recall that the Deputy Governors of Benue and Cross River states had earlier met in the same community where they called for peace while resolving the issue.
A community leader in Yacha, Augustine Odey Adula, who related by phone from the conflict zone, said the conflict started on Sunday.
“A few of our youths went to enquire from the Tiv settlers why they have refused to pay royalties as usual for settling on our lands. The Tiv people seized one of our youths, beat him to stupor and he died instantly.
“Of course, that triggered a reprisal. But they were prepared. They attacked and killed seven of our people and burnt 15 houses,” he stated.
Adula added that the people of Tiv had actually been paying royalties for the land, but they decided to stop paying for no explainable reason.
Secretary of the Yala and Cross River North Elders Forum, Barrister Leonard Anyogo, Yache’s son, also confirmed the murder in an interview but added that security agencies intervened in the incident .
Anyogo explained that there has not been a clear cut boundary demarcation, adding that Tiv people had settled on that land for years.
According to Anyogo, the land in dispute is actually where the boundary of the then Southern and Northern Protectorates was, which really was Yache land.
When contacted, Cross River State Police Public Relations Officer, Irene Ugbo, said an official report on the matter was yet to be received but assured that the command would soon hold a meeting on this problem.
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