Fear has gripped the people of Ali Ugwelu village, in Ekoli-Edda Community, in the Afikpo South Local Government of Ebonyi State as no fewer than five persons were attacked and killed by assailants allegedly from a neighboring community in Cross River State.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, as the victims were harvesting cassava in their farmlands before they were attacked by assailants allegedly from Erei Community, in the Biasa Local Government area of Cross River State. According to Punch, the attackers ate up the lifeless bodies of the victims.
According to a source, the two villages have been engulfed in dispute over the ownership of a palm tree plantation.
The Chairman of Afikpo South Council, Dr Eni Uduma-Chima, confirmed the incidence and noted that efforts were on to ensure the security of lives and property of the people of Ekoli-Edda community.
He said, “On Tuesday July 12th, 2021, Ekoli Edda people of Afikpo South LGA, who went to farm at Ali Ugwelu, were attacked by Egbor people with their allies and masters from Enna, in Biase LGA of Cross River State. One Ama Chukwu, 39 years, who was harvesting cassava from his farm, was beheaded, while another man, Mr Egor Etta Oji, with his son, Felix Egor Etta, 11 years, were slaughtered and their meat eaten by the Enna barbarians.
“A fourth person Nneka Olughu, who was abducted alongside the afore-mentioned persons, was however released after her abductors confirmed that she was from a different community.”