From Emmanuel Uzor, Abakaliki
Four persons have been reported killed in the renewed hostilities between Ofunakpa Inyimagu community in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State and the neighbouring Nsobo community in Obubara council area of Cross River State.
The four victims were said to be indigenes of Ofunakpa Inyimagu who died during the communal clash over land said to have lingered since 1984.
About 50 houses were burnt while other property, including cars and motorcycles, were destroyed.
The village head, Mr. Nwofurakpa Emmanuel, in an interview, explained that the fracas started on April 4, 2017, when, at about 8am, the neighbouring community attacked their people with dangerous weapons.
He said when his people came to inquire what was wrong, the Nsobo people reinforced, came in the company of heavily-armed security personnel, who gave them cover, and sacked them from their houses.
Also, principal of the community’s secondary school, where the refugees camped, Agwu Stephen, said their attackers were inhuman, as they not only killed people but also roasted and ate their meat.
He explained that the Nsobo people are indigenes of Cross River State, who were, on grounds of pity, allocated plots of land within the community, only for them to turn around and start claiming ownership of the land.