One person has been reportedly killed as three persons sustained various degree of injuries, while one person is missing as violence broke out in the boundary dispute between Ariam in Ikwanu Local Government Area of Abia State and their Ikot Okum neighbours in Obot Akara Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
Our correspondent gathered that the boundary dispute involves six villages in Akwa Ibom State and the people of the neighbouring Ariam in Abia State, fighting over a disputed parcel of land that demarcates the communities.
The six villages in Akwa Ibom State Abama, Ikot Okum, Esa Ikwen, Nto Ndang, Utu Ikot Inyang and Utu Otong, respectively.
It was gathered that the boundary dispute has persisted for decades, but the recent fracas started when a man from Abama went to his farm to harvest cassava last December and was accosted by men from Ariam, who attacked with machetes, before he narrowly escaped.
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An eyewitness from Abama community who pleaded anonymity, said the six communities regrouped in a reprisal attack and killed one person from Ariam.
“The funny thing is that Ariam fighters killed our brother and escaped with the corpse, but we din’t carry their corpse. They have to return the corpse for burial or we will fight them. This fight has persisted for many years,” the etewitness said.
He accused the people of Ariam of destroying the stream which serves as a natural boundary between the warring communities.
“On this disputed land, there is a stream which is supposed to serve as a natural boundary between us and the Ikwanu in Abia State.
“But, the people of Ariam always filled the stream with sand, just to destroy the natural boundary and trespass into our territory.
“Unfortunately, this stream has refused to dry up because you can’t destroy natural features. Government should step in and address this problem,” he added.
Confirming the incident, the Akwa Ibom State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John said one person from Ariam in Ikwanu Local Government Area of Abia State has lost his life, while three persons from Okum community in Akwa Ibom State were seriously injured.
“Yes, it is a boundary clash between Ikwanu Local Government Area and Obot Akara Local Council Area in Akwa Ibom state. One person from Ikot Okum is missing now. Investigation is ongoing to arrest the perpetrators,” he said.
