Tension In Arochukwu As Isu Community Cries Out Over Communal Attack

Tensions have escalated in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State following a violent clash between the people of Ndi Isu and residents of Mbiabong Ukwa in Odukpani LGA, Cross River State.

The incident, which occurred on January 3, 2025, centered around the Okpa Isu Pond, a fishing area belonging to the Isu community.

In the wake of the confrontation, three members of the Isu community remain missing. The President General of the Isu Progressive Union, Engr. Amarachi Kalu, decried the continuous encroachment on Isu land by the Ukwa people. Speaking to journalists, he expressed deep concerns over the recurring attacks, which he said have led to the displacement of many Isu residents since 2018.

“These invasions have caused immense suffering for our people. The attack on our fishermen at Okpa Isu Pond is the latest in a series of aggressions. We are calling on the State and Federal Governments to intervene urgently and address this crisis before it spirals further out of control,” Engr. Kalu stated.

Residents of Ndi Isu have voiced fears of escalating violence, urging authorities to provide adequate security to prevent further attacks and protect their livelihoods.

ABN TV recalls that in September last year, Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, expressed optimism that the lingering boundary dispute between the Isu community in Arochukwu LGA and its neighbors in Cross River would soon be resolved.

The governor, during his monthly media chat with newsmen in Umuahia, acknowledged the challenges posed by the dispute but assured that efforts were being made to find lasting peace.

“Boundary disputes sometimes linger, but by the time you share a boundary, it means there is a relationship—you could be brothers and sisters. So I believe we would resolve the problem, given that the two states are favorably disposed,” the governor said.

Dr. Otti also noted that his administration had recently sent relief materials to the affected community and commended the authorities in Cross River State for demonstrating a willingness to amicably resolve the boundary dispute.

Efforts to reach representatives from the Mbiabong Ukwa community for comments were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report. Meanwhile, security agencies are yet to issue an official statement on the incident.

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