Two persons have been confirmed dead following a renewed communal clash in parts of Cross River State, amid rising tension over alleged land disputes between neighbouring communities.
It was gathered that the victims, identified as Omini Iyam Ebri, 56, and Ubi Ofem Ubi, 58, were attacked by unidentified gunmen while working on their farms.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday along Ekpenti Farm Road off the Idomi–Ugep axis in Yakurr Local Government Area, has heightened fears of reprisal attacks and possible escalation of violence in the affected communities.
Sources said Ebri was shot at close range while harvesting on his farmland along Ekpenti Farm Road, while Ubi, who was reportedly with him at the time, sustained severe gunshot injuries.
The injured victim was rushed to the General Hospital in Ugep for treatment but later died as a result of the injuries sustained during the attack.
A family member of one of the deceased, Charles Omini Iyam, told journalists that his father was shot in the face at about 7:05 a.m. while working on the farm.
He said the incident has thrown the community into panic, with residents now afraid to return to their farms.
Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, Sunday Eitokpah, said security operatives had been deployed to the area to forestall further breakdown of law and order.
He said the command was working with operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) to stabilise the area and prevent retaliatory attacks.
According to him, investigations have commenced to identify and arrest those behind the killings.
He urged residents to remain calm and allow security agencies to handle the situation professionally.
Meanwhile, community leaders have been advised to intensify peace efforts to prevent the dispute from escalating into a wider communal conflict.