Hundreds of youths in Okuku, in Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State on Sunday repelled attack by armed men suspected to be Fulanis headsmen on their communities.
The youths leader from Okuku who preferred anonymity said they got information that large numbers of headsmen were coming to their community through Benue state and they mobilized waiting for them.
“These headsmen were coming in from Benue when our informant told us and we got ourselves prepared waiting for them. There was no attack because they got information that we had prepared and were waiting for them”
“They were coming in from Benue flank into Yala, so information filtered to the youths and the youths mobilized heavily. We had sleepless night keeping vigil of the areas till this morning (Monday)” he alleged.
He, however, said, “Information got to the Fulanis that the Youths in the areas were waiting for them and they retreated. It didn’t happen again but we protected all our border communities, we kept vigil and the attack was averted.”
But the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ms Irene Ugbo told DAILY POST that it was not true that there was an attempt to attack the community. “It is not true that there was an attempt attack. We got information that some headsmen invaded Okuku community in Yala local government area of the state.
“Immediately, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) dispatched our men to the area. Reaching their border area, they saw community people blocking the road with fire, they now asked them why they blocked the road with fire, they said they heard that headsmen were coming to enter their community.
“So the DPO stood there with them and it was later that one bike man came and said that police intercepted some people with vehicle but they were trying to beat the traffic. They checked them and later let them go.
She said, “There were not headsmen. It was false news and our men are still on ground there. There were no headsmen around the area.”
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