Chieftaincy Title Tussle Takes Lives of over 20 People in Cross River

As tourists from
various countries arrive the capital of Cross River
State, Calabar, for the 2013 Carnival, the people of
Ofodua in Obubra LGA have been thrown into
mourning and disarray with the killing of about 20
people by some hoodlums over a chieftaincy tussle.
According to Leadership, over 20 people were slain
and property, including residential buildings,
motorcycles, assorted cars, refrigerators and
electronics and etc., worth over a billion naira, was
destroyed.
The clash has erupted between Va-Egbe village and
Va-Egba, Iva Ibetono, Iva Awinotogbe, Iva Obeten
over who succeeds the late monarch, Chief Oden.
Scores of the Ofodua indigenes were arrested and
detained in police custdy at the State Criminal
Investigation Department (CID), Diamond Hill,
Calabar, with others escaping to neighbouring
communities.
It was further learnt that the communal clash
stemmed from the demise of the Ofodua Clan Head,
Chief Oden who was said to have come from the royal
family of the community.
A youth leader, Mr. Stephen Ovat told the reporters
that the Ofodua Clan Headship was monarchical and
they had already commenced the process of
crowning the next chief from Va-Egbe, the royal
household, when some people plotted and invited a
Lagos-based commercial motorcycle operator, Mr.
Festus Egbe to return home to be crowned.

Sent From David Aniemeka