At least three people were killed and many others injured in a crisis that broke out Monday at Abanwan and Orugbam communities in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State.
An eyewitness, who is a lawyer from one of the warring communities, said the crisis was due to a land dispute. He alleged: “Orugbam people shot their way into Ipene community and destroyed houses. But when the police arrested five of the ring leaders and put them in a cell to calm the situation, the deputy governor ordered for their release.”
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Hafiz Inuwa Mohammed, has deployed some detachments of police personnel to Abanwan and Orugbam communities. He also directed the Divisional Police Officer in Biase to move policemen into two other communities within the local government area, Afona and Ibini.
The spokesman of the state police command, Irene Ugbo, who confirmed the clashes, said the police commissioner had to reinforce the strength of the police in Biase to arrest the situation.
He, however, denied knowledge of any death, men of the command were on ground.
