Police Appeal For Calm After Farmer Killed In Cross River Communal Attack

A farmer has been killed and several others injured after gunmen attacked farmlands linked to the Orugbam and Egbor communal dispute in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State.

The Cross River State Police Command has appealed to the affected communities to halt hostilities and cooperate with investigators, as tension rises over fears of reprisal attacks.

Daily Post and Daily Trust reported that the violence happened on Saturday, July 4, 2026, when farmers from Orugbam community were attacked near Egbor.

Police identified the victims as Nkeruwem Ikoh and Ukam Ajah Okpan. Ikoh later died from his injuries, while Okpan was reported to be receiving treatment.

The command said the deceased’s body had been deposited at Uwana Mortuary in Afikpo, Ebonyi State, and that an investigation had begun to identify those responsible.

The incident has revived concerns over the long-running dispute between Urugbam/Orugbam and Egbor communities, which residents said had previously led to deaths and property destruction before peace efforts restored relative calm.

Philip Obin, an indigene of Orugbam, alleged that the attack was unprovoked and said no arrests had been made more than 24 hours after the incident.

An Egbor youth leader, Davies Ekor, denied that his community launched an unprovoked attack, insisting that Egbor residents were responding to provocation.

Police spokesperson ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata urged residents not to take the law into their own hands and asked members of the public to provide credible information that could help arrest the perpetrators.

Sources: Daily Post, Daily Trust