Two persons were announced dead over the just concluded weekend in resumed enmities between Usumtong and Ebom communities in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State.
The leader of Ebom village, Chief Sunday Obite, claimed that a man and his son were executed by beheading them by people from Usumtong, who waylaid them while they were on their farm on Saturday.
It was found that the man, Mr Oti Ato, who was murdered with his son, Sunday, was also with his grandson, Michael, who flew with injuries from the gunshot, and other members of his family.
Obite declared three persons are missing, continuing that the lifeless bodies of the victims had been produced with the aid of soldiers deployed in the communities since the crisis started last year.
He said: “The man and his family were harvesting cassava when they were attacked by Usumutong people. The grandson, who is receiving treatment in a hospital at Itigidi following the bullet wound he sustained while hiding in the bush, said he saw the people cutting off his grandfather’s and father’s heads from his hiding place in the bush.
“They even made the wife, Eliza Oti, watch while they beheaded her husband and son and asked her to inform her family.
“We thought since the soldiers were present, peace had been restored. But we have been proved wrong. Even as they stole our produce, we kept mute. But now they have started again by killing a man and his son in the presence of his wife.”
Another man from Ebom community, Oban Bassey, declared they recovered the bodies with the help of soldiers and informed the police about the matter.
Police spokesperson Irene Ugbo said:
“We are aware of the killing. The commissioner of police has deployed men there. Community leaders have been invited to meet the commissioner for further deliberation. At present the area is calm.”
