Cross River State police chief Olusegun Omosanyin calls reports about dead bodies lying around two villages completely false. Etono and Biakpan communities have been fighting each other for two months over who owns the land. People from both places say their families lived there first and deserve to control the area. The fighting has happened on and off for many decades between these neighbors. Community members claim more than 50 people have died during the recent violence.
Witnesses say they saw rotting corpses scattered around both villages after the latest battles. Security officers also reported finding decomposing bodies during their patrols through the war zones. Senior Advocate Mba Ukweni comes from Biakpan and strongly denies these death reports are true. He sent messages saying no decomposing bodies can be found anywhere around either community. The police commissioner demands anyone who has pictures of dead bodies should bring them forward as proof.
Omosanyin arranged several peace talks between the angry communities hoping to end their violent feud. His officers stay stationed throughout both areas to keep watch for more trouble. The commissioner refuses to talk about claims that one side hired armed fighters to help them win. He admitted earlier that both communities have been collecting dangerous weapons for the conflict. Police promise they will search for and remove all these illegal arms from the area.
Witnesses say they saw rotting corpses scattered around both villages after the latest battles. Security officers also reported finding decomposing bodies during their patrols through the war zones. Senior Advocate Mba Ukweni comes from Biakpan and strongly denies these death reports are true. He sent messages saying no decomposing bodies can be found anywhere around either community. The police commissioner demands anyone who has pictures of dead bodies should bring them forward as proof.
Omosanyin arranged several peace talks between the angry communities hoping to end their violent feud. His officers stay stationed throughout both areas to keep watch for more trouble. The commissioner refuses to talk about claims that one side hired armed fighters to help them win. He admitted earlier that both communities have been collecting dangerous weapons for the conflict. Police promise they will search for and remove all these illegal arms from the area.
