Police summon C’River farmers, herdsmen over clashes

The Cross River State Police Command on Wednesday said it had summoned herders and farmers in Ikot Inyang Community, Odukpani Local Government Area, to peace meetings following the clash between them on December 3, 2024.

The spokesperson for the command, SP Irene Ugbo, in a statement on Wednesday, said the altercation occurred around 9:00 am, prompting a swift intervention from Commissioner of Police, CP Augustine Grimah.

The CP deployed the Akamkpa Area Commander and Tactical Commanders to de-escalate tensions and restore order in the community.

The statement disclosed that a series of peace meetings were facilitated by the police involving key stakeholders, including clan and village heads, ward councillors, and representatives of the herdsmen.

Those present included: clan and village heads: Chief Etubum Essien, Chief Pastor Essien Inang, and Chief Austin Eyamba, Esq, and Hon. Bassey Bassey.

The herdsmen representatives were; Alhaji Bakari Sambo (Chairman), Alhaji Tukor Amadi Ali, Alhaji Gambo Abdul (Youth Leader, Nasarawa), and Musa Abdullahi. The dialogue reportedly resulted in significant progress, with normalcy restored in the area.

Grimah advised journalists, bloggers, and influencers to avoid disseminating unverified information capable of causing unrest or damaging the Police Force’s reputation.

He assured the public of the command’s commitment to justice, peace, and the protection of lives and property across the state.

He also said to have urged the residents to rely solely on official police statements for accurate updates.