Three more persons killed in Camp 4, Akamkpa LGA over land ownership clash

Three more people have been confirmed killed in farm settlements of Camps two and four of Akpabiyo and Akamkpa LGA of Cross River State.

Camp two is said to border Akpabiyo LGA while Camp four borders Akamkpa LGA. Both places are a stone-throw to a giant cement plant in Mtamosing town next to a community called Akansoko, famous for limestone and farming.

Mostly non-natives are reportedly dominating the settlements and have imposed a type of rate collections, which are said to be controversial.

Three weeks ago, two people were killed, which led to the composition of vigilante groups to fish out perpetrators.

Sources claimed that reprisal attacks snowballed into yesterday’s killings of the five persons whose identities were not disclosed but were also residing in both camps.

According to Etebom Effiong, 62, one of the escapees from the ongoing violence in the two camps, “the current conflict is as a result of disagreements over rate collections and land ownership.

“Yesterday, two persons died from reprisal attacks, another person was also killed.

“There’s been tension, fear for life, and people are fleeing from the two Camps because gangs of assailants are rampaging, entering from one house to another in search of persons involved in the killings”, he said.

Another resident, a market woman, Madam Angelina who often traveled from Calabar, at least, twice weekly, to buy fruits and other food items, recalled that violence erupts now and again in those places.

“Last year, security personnel took over the places after similar attacks took place”, she narrated.

She appealed to the government and security agencies to establish security posts to ensure their constant presence.

When contacted, the Deputy Police PRO in the state, Igri Ewa, said they will investigate the report and revert.