Not less than 10 people have been reported dead in brutal communal clash between the people of Isu clan in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State and their neighbours from Utuma in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State and scores of houses reportedly set ablaze.
The bloody clash which was said to have erupted last week Wednesday has reportedly left the Abia community deserted as the people were said to have fled the community.
Consequently, the people of Isu have sent a save our soul, SOS, to the Abia State Government to urgently rescue them from being wiped out by Utuma people.
According to a community leader from Isu , Hon. Nicholas Igwe Kalu, “over 10 persons have been killed in the fracas while several houses have been torched in Isu clan. ”
But the police disputed the claim, saying no death was recorded and that only a farm hut was partly burnt.
The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Anthony Ogbizi who confirmed the crisis said however that the area is now calm and that his command and his Cross River State counterpart have stationed their men there to ensure that peace reigned.
He disputed the claim of Isu people that one of their persons was still being held, saying he had challenged them to name the person.
Igwe Kalu traced the crisis to an on-going road grading being executed by the Ibeto Group, an indigenous firm interested in the development of lime stone said to have been discovered in Isu.
According to him, they were disrupting the road project in Isu, pointing out that Isu people sent emissaries to them and appealed to them to allow the work to go on and even promised to persuade the company to assist them if they desired.
He admitted that in reaction, Isu people also abducted some Utuma people but explained that both sides released their captives following the intervention of the police and the military.
Giving details of the crisis, CP Ogbizi said that his command was first informed of the crisis on April 17 and he quickly dispatched his men to maintain order in the area.
