“Former Economic Adviser Raises Alarm of Alleged Genocide in Cross River Community”
Former economic adviser to the former governor of Cross River State, Prof Ndem Ayara Ndiyo, has brought attention to what he claims is a genocide being perpetrated by the people of Isu community in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State against the Okwa Eburutu in Odukpani LGA of Cross River.
Speaking in a widely broadcast radio interview in Calabar, Prof. Ndiyo alleged ongoing killings of the Okwa people, tracing the conflict back to the Nigeria civil war in the mid-1960s.
According to him, the root cause of the conflict is the significant deposit of limestone in Okwa, which has led to an alleged agenda to eliminate the Okwa people by their Isu neighbors. He emphasized that this issue has persisted since the civil war era.
Prof. Ndiyo, who once chaired a peace and security panel between the Isu and Okwa communities, highlighted the efforts made by past military and civilian administrations to address the conflict, including high-profile visits and interventions. However, he claimed that these efforts have not brought an end to the alleged daily killings.
He further asserted that the Isu people have attempted to annex Okwa land, despite clear boundary demarcations and legal judgments affirming Okwa’s territorial integrity.
Prof. Ndiyo lamented the lack of security cover for the Okwa people and called for the establishment of functional police stations and army presence to address the insecurity and killings in their communities. He emphasized the vulnerability of Okwa people, who have access only through Isu community, making them susceptible to attacks.
In response, the Assistant Inspector General of Police for Zone Six, Jonathan Towuru, denied the ongoing killings in the affected communities. He stated that security authorities are scheduled to meet with political authorities and stakeholders from both states to address the situation, claiming that interventions have already been made to stem the violence.