Alarming Allegations of Genocide in Cross River Community Raised by UNICAL Lecturer

Prof Ndem Ayara Ndiyo, a former economic adviser to the ex-governor of Cross River State, has brought attention to the alleged 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.

In a radio interview that was widely broadcast on Tuesday morning and monitored in Calabar, the lecturer from the University of Calabar claimed that there is an ongoing massacre of the Okwa people.

He mentioned that the organized killings date back to the mid-1960s during the Nigeria civil war.

Ndiyo, who once chaired the peace and security panel between the Isu and Okwa communities in both states, elaborated on the root cause of the communal conflict being the abundant deposits of limestone in Okwa.

He emphasized, “The systematic killings of the Okwa people have been a long-standing genocide agenda driven by the limestone issue. It dates back to the civil war era.

Describing the hostile neighbors, he explained, “We are surrounded by the Isu people, who aim to eradicate us living across the river and the neighboring Otuma community of Biase LGA of Cross River State due to the limestone.”

He supported his claims by citing visits from high-ranking officials like late Gen Paul Omu, former military administrator of the then South Eastern state, as well as former governors Late Brigadier Dan Archibong of Cross River and Brig Ike Nwachkwu of Abia State, to the troubled area.

He pointed out the lack of security protection for his people compared to the Isu community and urged for the establishment of functional police stations and army presence to address the insecurity and unreported killings.

According to him, the boundary demarcation is clearly defined by the river, with numerous court judgments and government panels on the issue.

Expressing their vulnerability to attacks due to having access only through the Isu community, he emphasized the need for operational mobile police stations to curb the daily aggressions and killings in their communities.

In response, the Assistant Inspector General of Police for Zone Six, Jonathan Towuru, refuted the claims of ongoing killings in the affected areas, stating that interventions have been made through collaborations despite Isu community now being in Zone 9.

He assured, “Security authorities are set to engage with political authorities in both states and key stakeholders to address the situation, and we have managed to contain it.”