BY: Nick Nwaneri, Calabar
Arising from the on-going communal clash between Nko and Onyedama communities in Yakurr/ Obubra local government areas of Cross River, the later has cried out for help, requesting for the demilitarization of the area,.
Community Leaders from Nko addressing newsmen in Calabar to draw attention to the alleged experiences of their people in the hands of the military personnel drafted to the area to maintain peace, stated that “hell has allegedly been unleashed on the hapless people”.
Also speaking, a former commissioner on the board of Federal Character Commission representing Akwa Ibom/ Cross River Dr Akpama Mbang Akpama, pointed out that apart from the dehumanization of their people, school children are no longer going to school and NECO examination is ongoing,.
Akpama who was accompanied to the media briefing by a former minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani also commended the state government for measures so far taken to ensure that lasting peace, returns to the area.
He appealed to the military high command to relocate their personnel from their community to the precincts of their border and their warring neighbor so as to ensure that normal human activities including the reopening of schools could return to their community.
According to him, “our community as I speak is under siege and all forms of human activities that can sustain human survival have been disrupted.”
He appealed to international organizations, NGOs, ministry of Humanitarian Affairs ,NEMA and State Emergency management agency SEMA to come to the aid of their people who have been rendered homeless , traumatized and exposed to harsh weather conditions that has rendered life miserable and unbearable.
