The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday at the boundary between Usumutong and Ebom communities.
DAILY POST gathered that three farmers of Usumutong extraction went to their farms located at the boundary between the two communities to harvest rice when they were ambushed by people suspected to be from Ebom.
“One of the trio was shot severally but escaped with bullet wounds while two others could not be found,” an eyewitness who gave his name as Omini said, adding that the duo were yet to be seen several hours after the incident.
Speaking with Arewa. Ng on phone on Wednesday, the village head of Usumutong, His Royal Majesty (HRM) Oval Solomon Osım Edward said the incident occurred in a farmland located between Usumutong and Ebom communities.
“Our sons, three of them went to harvest their rice at the boundary between us and Ebom when the people of Ebom who had laid ambushed, attacked them. One person who was shot severally escaped while the other two persons have not been seen.
“The one that sustained injuries as a result of the gunshot is receiving treatment at undisclosed herbal home where the bullets are being extracted from his body”.
He said, though the army and other security operatives were in the community, the attack occurred in the bush where the people planted rice and other crops.
“As I am talking to you now, there is tension in the community; we don’t know the whereabouts of our sons, who are fathers and relations of our people,” he stated.
Also contacted, the village head of Ebom, Chief Henry Bassey said “We have already reported the incident to the police; they killed their people and alleged that we killed them. Come and ask anybody here, we have Police from AIG, Police from Area Command here, Police from the DPO and soldiers, come and ask them”.
He explained “few days ago, the people of Usumutong killed a pastor from Assigha but owned a Church in Ebom; they also killed our son from Ebom who carried the Pastor to his village in Yakurr, in a motorcycle; the duo were ambushed and killed and their heads beheaded.”
“The pastor went to his village but he was murdered with our son. We have reported the incident to security operatives. Come and find out from them, what Usumutong is doing is propaganda,” he stressed.
Reacting to the fresh attack, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Ms Irene Ugbo said on phone on Wednesday that “The Clan head has brought a letter to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Yakurr that one of their boys was shot and Police is investigating the incident with a view to bringing the suspects to book.”
She noted that, “our policemen and other security agencies are there to maintain law and other as well as to protect life and property”.
