Clash claims one, cattle in Cross River State

A Clash involving herdsmen, Ugep youths and police in Yakurr council area of Cross River State has resulted in the death of one person and loss of many cows. The youths were reported to have attacked and killed some straying cattle belonging to the herdsmen in their farms on Sunday, claiming the flocks had destroyed their crops in the process. But they, however, clashed with the police who were on a mediation tour thinking they had come to arrest them.

The altercation unfortunately resulted in the sole death.The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Irene Ugbo, who confirmed the incident, said the herdsmen did not kill anybody.Her words: “What happened was that the community was having a problem with the herdsmen, whereby some cows were slaughtered.

“So the issue was reported to the police and the Area Commander of Ugep called the chiefs and the herdsmen in the area for a peace meeting to settle the matter. But the youths of the community thinking that they were called to be arrested, came and started attacking the police and were threatening to burn down the station.

“The police had to protect themselves and in the process of fighting, one of the youths was gunned down. The situation right now is calm. Investigation is ongoing.”

The latest occurrence makes the second time the herdsmen are clashing with the people of the state. Late last year, some lives and cows were lost in Ito community of Odukpani area council following a bloody clash.