Cross River communal clash turns deadly as Boje man beheaded in land dispute with Isobendeghe. State Assembly demands urgent intervention and arrests
Cross River communal clash has escalated following the alleged beheading of a man from the Boje community in Boki Local Government Area.
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The violence, which reignited between the Boje and Isobendeghe communities, is rooted in a long-standing land dispute that has once again turned deadly.
During plenary at the Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon. Bette Philip Obi, who represents the Boki I State Constituency, brought the matter to the floor, warning that continued violence could spiral into a full-blown communal war.
According to him, the land in question is officially classified as a government reserve, meaning neither community holds legal ownership.
“The conflict has led to several casualties, including the beheading of a man from Boje,” Hon. Obi stated.
“If immediate action is not taken, the violence could spiral into a full-scale communal war.”
Reacting to the report, Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, strongly condemned the killings and labelled the incident “barbaric and unacceptable.”
He called for immediate security deployment to restore peace in the affected areas. “This House will not tolerate the needless killing of innocent people.
We demand immediate security deployment to restore order, protect lives and property, and send a strong message that violence has no place in our dear state,” he declared.
The House also passed a resolution calling for the arrest and investigation of clan heads, youth leaders, and women leaders from both communities who are suspected of fuelling the crisis.
Lawmakers stressed that no individual or group should be above the law, especially when lives are being lost.
The Commissioner for Information, Erasmus Ekpang, and the Chairperson of Boki Local Government, Beatrice Etta, also publicly condemned the attacks.
They appealed for calm and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to peace and justice.
In a related development, the Deputy Public Relations Officer of the Police in Cross River, Igris Ewa, disclosed that security forces were already being mobilised to the troubled communities to restore calm and prevent further bloodshed.
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As tensions remain high in the Boki region, residents are calling for long-term solutions to the decades-old land conflict, warning that peace will remain elusive without clear government intervention and justice for victims.
