Gunmen Defy Gov Otu's Warning, Shoot 1 In Renewed Communal Clash

Despite a warning by the Cross River State governor, Bassey Otu, that the government would deal with those who take to arms rather than settle land disputes amicably, one person has again been shot in a renewed attack by armed groups in the disputed border area between Ikom and Obubra local government areas of the state.

In the last six months, Governor Otu has been championing peace talks to find a lasting solution to the persistence communal crisis between Alesi, Ekukunela and Agbaragba communities in Ikom LGA and neighbouring Obubra local government area communities of Ochon, Isabang and Odonget in the state.

The victim, identified as Junior Ebi Anara, hails from Okosora Clan in Ikom LGA.

The incident occurred on October 11, 2025, despite a warning by Governor Bassey Otu to maintain peace and status quo.

Eyewitnesses reported hearing gunshots at the border area, and sources indicated that the attack happened when youths from Ofutop attempted to stop the armed group from harvesting cocoa from their farms.

The father of the victim narrated how his son was shot while trying to stop the armed men from stealing their crops.

This is the third attack on farmers in the area since the governor’s intervention began, leaving residents worried about the safety of their crops.

The governor has been engaging in peace talks with the affected communities to find a lasting solution to the crisis.

An eyewitness, Mr Robinson (surname withheld), stated that the renewed attack occurred on October 11, 2025, when Otutop youths attempted to stop armed groups from a neighbouring local government area of Obubra local government area from harvesting their cocoa pods from their farms located in the disputed area.

A source who spoke through an interpreter said, “When we heard that those men had gone to steal our crops, we went to stop them. We were telling them to leave our cocoa, when one of them opened fire on us. One of us was shot, the rest fled the scene”.

Father of the victim, while narrating the incident, said, “I was at home when some people came to me telling me that my son had been shot at the farm.

“I went with them to get my son and took him to the hospital, before we got there, the armed men had left.

” I was told he tried stopping the men from taking away stolen cocoa from the farm”.

It is yet not clear about the fellow who led the armed groups to invade the farms within the disputed area, but residents and farm owners within the disputed zone expressed worry over the safety of their crops.