Following the long battle for possession of natural resource, the people of Ike-Isu community in Arochukwu LGA, Abia state were attacked again by the Utuma/Ukwa clans from Cross River state.
There have been a long communal land struggle between this neighbouring communities which possesses a multi-billion natural resource.
The Utuma/Ukwa people known for same pattern of attack on the Ik-Isu people, while disregarding government warnings, laid siege again on Monday.
There was serious gun battles after the around 8am invasion and some of the indigenes of Ike-Isu have been declared missing according to reports.
Confirming the attack, member representing Arochukwu LGA constituency in the Abia house of Assembly, Hon. Dr. Mike Ukoha confirmed the report and assured that he has reached out to the commissioner of police and a team has been dispatched to curtail the situation.
He further called upon the Governor Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu to wade in on the matter so as to prevent further lives and property, he also enjoined his colleague in cross River to help foster peace in and around the communities
Also confirming the attack, a member of the Ike-Isu community, Yvonne Watson, took to Facebook expressing her sadness and anger.
God Have Mercy on Isu people, The Killing in lsu Arochukwu local Government Abia State is too much since last year, Today in the Morning they also came to Isu for another Killing, This is End Time oooo, How can people leave their place and Cross Ocean Sea to come and Claim Land that We heard did not belong to them, Utuma and Ukwa people please Stop Killing Isu Arochukwu local Government Abia State people oooo.
As at August 2019, 3,500 indigenes of Ike-Isu were on their way for starvation. IDPs are quartered at the Ohabuike Primary School and depend on relief materials from Abia State government and few villages in Isu community, who are yet to be attacked.
The displaced persons live in squalid conditions as they cannot farm or return to their homes. Food, clothing, and medicine are rare commodities in the IDP camp.
According to the President General of Isu Progressive Union (IPU), Felix Okoro, the community spends about N2million monthly to cater for the IDPs, and this was after the attack on Iheosu village in Isu clan by Ndi-Utuma on April 18, 2018, burning down their houses and rendering them homeless.
Okoro stated that as a result of the attack, Amachi, Ugbu and other communities in Isu clan were displaced, adding that over 60 persons had died in the attacks.
Based on the recent attack, Elder Felix Okoro, said gunmen had laid siege to Isu land where they killed two natives while about 10 persons were missing.
Okoro disclosed that the hoodlum came from the disputed area at Iheosu-Isu to attack the natives who had been taking refuge at a location in the community.
He said: “The hoodlums invaded Isu clan this morning and shot dead two persons. We have been suffering attacks from our Utuma neighbours.”
“This conflict started when limestone was discovered in Isu community and the Utuma have been laying claim to it, killing Isu people. Over 100 houses have been burnt and 60 persons killed with three villages sacked.”
“For about two years now, the people of Iheosu-Isu and other villages have fled from the land because they were being killed and their houses burnt. They have become internally displaced persons (IDPs) in their land.”
“The IDPs are now quartered at Ohabuike Primary School, Obieze-Isu. We are calling on the Federal and state government to protect Isu people before they kill all of us.”
“We have a state of emergency at hand with the over 3,500 IDPs at the primary school. Isu people are grateful to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Abia State government for sending relief materials.”
“It costs the community N2 million monthly to buy food, clothing and drugs for them. The IDPs cannot farm because their lands have been taken over and their houses burnt. Any Isu man who goes to the Iheosu-Isu is killed.”
“Isu people are worried about the situation. We are being slaughtered like chicken. The Deputy Governors of Abia and Cross Rivers States have visited Isu and Utuma and appealed for peace, yet our Utuma and Ukwa neighbours won’t allow us to live in peace.”
“We no longer go to the disputed area which is our land, but they have continued to attack us.”
Okoro urged the National Boundary Commission (NBC) as well as the Abia and Cross River State governments to urgently make further efforts to protect lives and property.
The Abia State Police Commissioner, Mr. Ene Okon, said the area was now calm.
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