5,000 displaced C/River residents take refuge in Benue

Over 5,000 residents displaced following communal clashes in Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State are currently taking refuge at the border villages of Oju in Benue State.

The deadly clashes which occurred between Wanihem and Wanikade communities of Yala area in the past two weeks had led to the loss of many lives.

Our correspondent’s visit to the displaced peoples’ camp in Adudu-Owo in Oju LGA of Benue State, coincided with the on-the-spot assessment of the victims by the Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ivara Esu.

The Chairman of Oju LGA, Augustine Okwoche, said that five communities in his domain were initially taken over by the influx of displaced victims of the communal clashes who arrived in their thousands as the crisis escalated within the period.

Okwoche who told Daily Trust that he had visited the remote area where the victims of the crisis had been inhabiting since fleeing their homes for at least seven times, also handed another batch of large relief items donated by the Benue State government to the displaced people.