Ebonyi and Cross River communites engaged in a gun fight

Several people were reported to have been injured and property worth millions of naira distroyed in a communal clash between the people of azuofia in Abakaliki LGA and Ovuruokpun Community in Cross River State.



According to Salt FM, The erupted as a result of an alleged killing of an Indigene of Ovuruokpun community by suspected cultist. The people of Ovuruokpun alleged that the man was murdered in other to be used for traditional rites for the burial of their traditional ruler.

The SSA to the Governor of Ebonyi State on Internal Security, Dr. Kenneth Ugbala rebuffed the allegation explaining that ebonyi culture does not require any human sacrifice for the burial of any traditional Monarch. He urged the warring parties to sheath their sword and embrace dialogue for peace to return to the area.

A combined team of army personnel and the Nigerian Police that were deployed to the communities were said to have arrived the communities while exchange of gunfire was still ongoing.

Reports say several families at the disputed communities fled their homes as a result of the crisis.