One farmer has been shot dead and several others injured in a fresh outbreak of communal violence in Cross River State, Nigeria.
Police confirmed that gunmen attacked farmland near Egbor community in Biase Local Government Area on Saturday afternoon. The victim, identified as Mr. Nkeruwem Ikoh, was killed instantly, while another farmer, Mr. Ukam Ajah Okpan, sustained gunshot wounds and is receiving treatment
The attack is believed to be linked to a long‑running land dispute between Egbor and Orugbam communities, which has repeatedly flared into violence. Witnesses said the farmers were ambushed while clearing land, sparking panic among residents.
A police spokesperson, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, said tactical teams had been deployed to the area and a full investigation was under way. He urged residents to remain calm and avoid reprisals.
Local leaders have accused authorities of neglecting the community, warning that insecurity could worsen if urgent steps are not taken. Farming and commercial activities have been disrupted, withmany residents fleeing their homes.
Cross River State has a history of communal clashes, often driven by disputes over fertile farmland used for crops such as cocoa and oil palm.
One was killed and several others injured following a land dispute in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State.
The Special Adviser to Governor Bassey Otu on Digital Economy, Philip Obin, raised the alarm, saying the incident occurred on Friday, July 4, 2026.
Obin alleged that the victim, Nkeruwem Ikoh, popularly known as Obong Ikor Obong, was shot dead on his farmland in Urugbam by armed men suspected to have come from Egbor Community in Erei South, both in Biase LG.
He said, “Let it be on record that today, July 4, 2026, armed persons from a community in Erei South, Biase LGA, together with their collaborators, invaded the farmland of my community, Urugbam.”
He also accused the government of neglecting the community amid the conflict, alleging that one person was killed while several others sustained gunshot injuries.
“During the unprovoked attack, Mr Obong Ikor Obong was shot and killed, while several other persons sustained gunshot injuries,” Obin stated.
Confirming the incident on Monday in a statement made available to journalists in Calabar, the state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, said the command had commenced an investigation.
He said, “The incident reportedly occurred on Friday, July 4, 2026, at about 3:00 p.m., when two farmers, Mr Nkeruwem Ikoh and Mr Ukam Ajah Okpan, both of Orugbam Community, Erei, were allegedly attacked and shot by unidentified gunmen while working on their farmlands near Egbor Community.
“The victims were rushed to the village for immediate assistance. Regrettably, Mr Nkeruwem Ikoh later succumbed to his injuries, while the second victim is currently receiving treatment. The deceased’s body has been deposited at Uwana Mortuary, Afikpo, Ebonyi State.”
According to him, the Cross River State Police Command assured members of the public that a thorough investigation was underway to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident, identify those responsible and bring them to justice.
He urged residents of Orugbam, Egbor and neighbouring communities to remain calm, refrain from taking the law into their own hands and cooperate with the police by providing credible information that could assist the investigation.
“Further developments will be communicated as the investigation progresses. The communities should remain calm, refrain from taking the law into their own hands and cooperate with the police by providing credible information that may assist the ongoing investigation,” he added.
SORUCE:PUNCH
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