Otu imposes curfew on four C’River communities to checkmate violence

Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in four communities to forestall further loss of lives and property and to enable security agencies to deal decisively with the situation.

The affected communities, Ugaga, Igbekurekor Benekaba, and Ujama, have been rocked by bloodletting in recent times.

Last week, the lingering mistrust between the Tiv people of Benue State and the Yache community in Yala LGA resulted in the deaths of seven people and the burning of 15 houses, with several people injured.

Otu, upon assumption of office, had immediately slapped a curfew on Bakassi and Akpabuyo LGAs.

An NGO, Partners for Peace in Niger Delta, had earlier reported that 16 out of the 18 LGAs of the state are engulfed in communal clashes.

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To arrest the situation, the governor released a statement signed by his chief press secretary, Emmanuel Ogbeche, on Tuesday.

“Following land and boundary disputes that have resulted in security threats leading to wanton destruction of lives and property, I, hereby, impose a dusk-to-dawn curfew in Ugaga and Igbekurekor communities of Yala Local Government Area, as well as in Benekaba and Ujama, respectively.

“The curfew is to enable security agencies to deal decisively with the situation in the affected communities and restore normalcy.

“While my administration has directed the State Emergency Management Agency to work out immediate interventions in terms of relief materials, I must reiterate that no community or individual has the monopoly to instigate crises and threaten the peace of any part of the state. I urge the traditional institutions in the affected communities to immediately work to restore peace and amity, as they will be held accountable for any further breakdown of law and order.

“I also urge our citizens in these communities to sheath their swords and give peace a chance. All those in the affected communities are advised, in their interest, to adhere strictly to this directive,” the governor said.