Government Area of Cross River State Deputy governor; the Isu community
has accused the Cross River State Deputy Governor, Prof. Ivara Esu, of
not showing commitment to stop the raging boundary war.
Pointblanknews.com gathered that a war had erupted between the two
communities following the discovery of limestone deposits in Isu
community land which the Utuma people are also claiming ownership.
Sources said the attacks began in 1989, as the two communities were in
the Old Imo state. In 1995, another attack ensued following the
announcement by the Abia State government to start a cement industry in
the area.
On August 18, 2018, a fresh crisis broke out in the area as the Utuma
clan allegedly burnt 5 villages and killed 30 persons in Isu community.
Efforts by the Ibeto Cement Company who got a license to commence work
on the cement industry was said to have angered the Utuma clan.
President General of Isu Progressive Union, (IPU), Elder Felix Okoro,
told Pointblanknews.com that the Cross River Deputy governor, who hails
from the same Biase Local Government Area with the Utuma clan, has been
‘foot dragging’ on the resolution of the boundary dispute.
While commending the Abia State Deputy Governor, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu for
his efforts to broker peace in the area, the President General insisted
that Prof Esu, was yet to show commitment to end the crisis.
He urged Prof. Esu to shun ethnic sentiments and politics and consider
the interest of over 3,500 Internally Displaced Persons, (IDPs) in Isu
community.
Okoro explained that the ‘body language and utterances’ of the Cross
River Deputy Governor has encouraged the Utuma people to continue
attacking the Isu Community as Isu villages have been burnt , with over
60 people killed in the crisis.
He said the displaced people numbering over 3,500 who are quartered at
the Ohabuke Primary School, face starvation since they can no longer
access their farms and homes.
According to him, “The Deputy Governor of Abia State, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu
and his Cross River counterpart, Prof. Ivara Esu, have visited Isu and
Utuma communities and pledged to ensure peace, but Isu people are still
being attacked, anyone who visits his farm is killed. In the past, the
Cross State government showed interest to end the crisis, but now the
Cross River Deputy Governor has been foot dragging.
“Today, the Cross Deputy Governor is still saying that what they have in
their gazette is Iheosu-Utuma, Amachi-Utuma and that these Igbo
speaking communities are in Cross River State. This cannot be the
attitude of a government official who wants to end the crisis. He keeps
saying that the affected communities belong to Cross River state, but
the Deputy Governor knows this in not correct. The Cross River Deputy
Governor’s attitude has been encouraging the Utuma people to continue to
lay claim to Isu lands because of the limestone deposits.
“The river is the natural boundary.The federal government should
delineate the boundary between the two communities. We don’t have any
other home than Isu where our ancestors lived. Now, the IDPs cant return
to their homes, we spend N2 monthly to feed them.
“Before the war, we lived in peace with pour Utuma neighbours. They were
part of the Aro/Ibo County Council. They paid their taxes through our
tax agents. The Utuma clan was settled by Isu people because they are
our fishermen. They migrated from Biakpa. During the civil war, they
crossed the river to stay with their kit and kin in Biakpa.
“At the end of the war, they returned and we accepted them because we
value their fishing occupation. But when it was confirmed that
limestone deposits was found in commercial quantity in our area, the
Ukwa and Utuma people started to lay claim on the land. This prompted
their first attack on Isu in 1989 which they killed many people. There
was another attack in 1995.”